Lornah Kiplagat Wins the AIMS/ASICS WORLD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

The outstanding athlete Lornah Kiplagat today (18/11/07) at the Seven Hills Race in Nijmegen, Netherlands was presented with the AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe award, recognising her as the World’s top female athlete the world accolade is from the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).

Lornah received the top award in world road racing the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award from AIMS representative Wim Verhoorn.
A dominant figure on the road, the track and the turf, Lornah. has scored 5 victories in her 17 marathons and has 12 performances faster than 2:30:00.

2006 Performances
12 OCT 2006 20K World Championships, Hungary 1:03:21
12 OCT 2006 15K World Championships, Hungary 47:10
18 SEPT 2006 10 mile Dam tot Dam, Netherlands 50:50

The AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards were founded in 1992 and are decided each year by way of nominations made by the member races of the world body The Association of International Marathons & Distance Races (AIMS). The membership totals some 237 races in over 80 countries covering every continent of the world.

Previous winners of the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award include Paula Radcliffe (England) 3 times, Mizuki Noguchi (Japan), Catherine Ndereba (Kenya), Naoko Takahashi (Japan), Tegla Loroupe (Kenya) 4 times, Uta Pippig (Germany) 2 times, Liz McColgan (Scotland).

AIMS President Hiroaki Chosa comments: “It is with pleasure we recognise the considerable achievement of Lornah Kiplagat. Lornah is one of the World’s most talented female runners of our time. She has worked very hard for many years to reach the very top of her sport. She is a credit to the sport investing much of her prize money winnings into funding a High Altitude Training Centre in Kenya for promising young athletes.”

Lornah Kiplagat remarked: “I am delighted to accept this prestigious award. It is always an honour to have your performances recognised and it is particularly pleasing to receive an award where over 80 countries around the world have been involved in the nomination process. I feel greatly honoured.”
AIMS Athlete Info Page: Lornah Kiplagat

Born 20th March 1974 in Kabeimit, Kenya
1.66 m tall, 49 kg weight
Switched from Kenyan to Dutch citizenship as of 23rd July, 2003. Married to Pieter Langerhorst (NED)

One of Kenya’s most accomplished long distance runners, with a distinguished career dating back to 1993. A dominant figure on the road, track and turf. She has scored five victories in her 17 marathons and has 12 performances faster than 2:30:00.

She has invested much of her prize money winnings into funding a High Altitude Training Centre in Kenya for promising young athletes.

Racing History
1997 Los Angeles Marathon (1)
1998 Los Angeles Marathon (1)
1999 Amsterdam Marathon (1)
2002 Osaka Marathon (1)

Personal bests:
Marathon 2:22:22
Half Marathon 66:25
20K 63:56
10 mile 50:54
10K 30:32
5K 14:47

Information supplied by AIMS Statistics Director Dr David Martin

AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards Information

The AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards were founded in 1992 and are decided each year by way of nominations made by the members of the world body The Association of International Marathons & Distance Races (AIMS) member races. The membership totals some 237 races in over 80 countries covering every continent of the world.
A male and female winner are recognised each year for their outstanding athletic achievement and as ambassadors for their sport and country.
The award is sponsored by sports company ASICS and each winner is awarded a golden ASICS shoe.

Winners To Date
Year of Award Male Winner Female Winner Comments
1992 Benson Masya (Kenya) Liz McColgan (Scotland)
1993 Dionicio Ceron (Mexico) No Award
1994 Vincent Rousseau (Belgium) Uta Pippig (Germany)
1995 No Award Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
1996 Paul Tergat (Kenya) Uta Pippig (Germany)
1997 Josia Thugwane (South Africa) Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
1998 Ronaldo da Costa (Brazil) Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
1999 Abel Anton (Spain) Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
2000 Gezahenge Abera (Ethiopia) Naoko Takahashi (Japan)
2001 Josephat Kiprono (Kenya) Catherine Ndereba (Kenya)
2002 Khalid Kannouchi (USA) Paula Radcliffe (England)
2003 Paul Tergat (Kenya) Paula Radcliffe (England)
2004 Stefano Baldini (Italy) Mizuki Noguchi (Japan)
2005 Jaouad Gharib (Morocco) Paula Radcliffe (England)
2006 Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) Lornah Kiplagat (Kenya/Netherlands)

Peter McLean
Director of Public Relations
Association of International Marathons & Distance Races