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American publication crowns Kenyan stars, Faith Kipyegon, Kelvin Kiptum 2023 World Athletes of the Year

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American athletics publication LetsRun.com has named Kenyan marathon duo, Faith Kipyegon and Kelvin Kiptum, as the 2023 World Athletes of the Year, a week after the controversy that trailed the decision of World Athletics to split the award into three this year.

The publication wrote that Kipyegon and Kiptum were the outstanding athletes of the year following their record-breaking performances at different circuits in 2023.

The decision was made by a panel of experts constituted by LetsRun.com, as well as athletic fans who voted in favour of Kipyegon and Kiptum ahead of other athletes who were up for votes.

Explaining why they settled on Kiptum, LetsRun.com said the world marathon record holder did not only have a near-perfect run when he won in London and Chicago, but also his winning margins set him apart.

Kiptum ran an astonishing 2:01:25 in London to record the second fastest time in history at the time and also recorded the fastest half-marathon split ever in a marathon, having completed the first half in 61:40 and the rest in 59:45 of which the final 12k he ran alone.

“This wasn’t a choreographed sub-2 event with pacers in perfect conditions. This was a 23-year-old making himself an instant distance legend on the rainy streets of London,” said LetsRun.

“Kiptum’s winning time of 2:01:25 took more than a minute off Eliud Kipchoge‘s 2:02:37 course record and was the second fastest time in history (now third).”

“We know that in an era of super shoes, times don’t necessarily mean as much as they used to. But please appreciate how dominant Kiptum was in London; the race that annually attracts the best fields in the sport (although neither Kipchoge nor Evans Chebet was in London this year.

“Prior to Kiptum, a man hadn’t won London by more than a minute since 2012. Eliud Kipchoge has won the London Marathon four times in his life.

“His margins of victory were as follows: five seconds, 46 seconds, 32 seconds, and 18 seconds. So, Kipchoge’s total margin of victory is 1:51 seconds over four races. Kiptum won London by 2:58 this year, the largest in the race’s history.

“No man had even won Chicago by more than 30 seconds since 2011. In the professional era (prize money started in 1982), no man had ever won Chicago by even two minutes. The largest margin of victory in the pro era was 1:57,” the publication said.

It added that Kipyegon’s was an easy pick following her three world records in 1500m, 5000, and mile in the Diamond League before claiming a rare double at the World Championships where she won gold in 1500m and 5000m.

Kipyegon lowered the 1500m world record in Florence, clocking 3:49.11 to shave nearly a full second off Genzebe Dibaba’s 3:50.07, following her season-opening win in Doha.

She went on to repeat the same feat a week later in Paris, beating previous record holder Letesenbet Gidey to run 14:05.20 in her first 5,000m in eight years, before she obliterated the mile world record, running 4:07.64 to take more than four seconds off the previous mark, in Monaco in July.

“Kipyegon became the first woman to sweep the 1500 and 5,000 at a global championships and demonstrated unparalleled closing speed – she ran her last lap in 56.63 to win the 1500 and 56.59 to win the 5,000,” LetsRun.com said.

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Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

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Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.

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Domestic worker sues Pitso Mosimane, wife following debilitating injuries

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Former Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Al Ahli of Egypt coach, Pitso Mosimane, and his wife, Moira Tlhagale, have been sued by their domestic worker after a severe injury at the home of the couple led to disabilities.

The domestic worker, domestic worker Dorothy Sikirivao, filed the lawsuit against Mosimane who is the current head coach of Abha Club of Saudi Arabia, claiming the sum of R5.7-million at the Johannesburg High Court after suffering from severe injuries he sustained in a mishap at the couple’s residence in April 2021.

According to reports by Sunday World, Sikirivao had a serious fall at the Mosimane’s home while clearing debris, with the accident allegedly leaving her with “catastrophic spine-related injuries, leading to a significant reduction in her mobility and affecting her reproductive health.”

The reports stated that medical specialists diagnosed Sikirivao with multiple injuries, including blood clots in the brain, shoulder dislocation, various bone fractures, and severe pressure on the spinal cord.

“The domestic worker claims the injuries were exacerbated by the demanding nature of her duties and the couple’s insistence that she return to work soon after the accident,” the tabloid wrote, quoting Sikirivao legal documents

“This was because of the tedious nature of the work she did and the potential of aggravating the injuries. The injuries she sustained from the said accident were of such a nature that exacting physical labor will aggravate them.”

The documents explained that initially, Mosimane and Tlhagale covered Sikirivao’s medical expenses but reportedly ceased payments without explanation.

“Despite being granted a month of sick leave following the incident, Sikirivao alleges she was coerced into resuming work, which worsened her condition.

“The plaintiff, post the said accident, was also prognosed to be in a situation where the plaintiff may never be able to carry a pregnancy and fulfil her desire to have her biological children except through an expensive and legally cumbersome process of surrogacy.

“Furthermore, she may face ongoing health complications due to the accident. The compensation Sikirivao seeks includes R1.7-million for loss of income, R2-million for past and future medical expenses, and R2-million divided equally for the loss of amenities of life and for pain and suffering,” the legal documents added.

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