Delight as Eliud Kipchoge Honoured with Highest Samurai Warrior Award

Delight as Eliud Kipchoge Honoured with Highest Samurai Warrior Award

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:52 PM
  • Kipchoge was feted with one of Japan’s most prestigious traditional awards on Thursday, November 18
  • The marathoner also had his contract as Isuzu D max brand ambassador extended by 2 years
  • He was feted in recognition of all his achievements in his stellar career as an athlete for more than 2 decades

World Marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge was recently feted with one of Japan’s most coveted traditional awards.

Eliud Kipchoge
Isuzu East Africa honored Eliud Kipchoge with one of Japan’s most coveted and highest traditional awards. Photo: Isuzu.
Source: UGC

Kipchoge was on Thursday, November 18 feted with the Samurai Kabuto helmet by Isuzu Motors Limited Japan.

The marathoner has had a memorable 2021, defending his Olympic title in Tokyo after emerging first with a time of 2:08:38.

His feat made him only the third human to successfully defend his gold at the Olympics since Abebe Bikila in 1960 and 1964, and Waldemar Cierpinski in 1976 and 1980.

TUKO.co.ke has since learnt that the helmet is typically worn by Samurai warriors and was presented to Kipchoge in recognition for the records he has broken and all his achievements in his stellar career spanning more than two decades.

Kipchoge is also the Isuzu brand ambassador.

“Eliud we are very pleased to be associated with you as our Isuzu D- Max brand ambassador. Friendship is a great thing to have and through friendships you find people who can advise you, improve your life and help to surmount challenges in life. Thank you to Eliud for the long and steadfast partnership that dates back to 2017,’ said Rita Kavashe Isuzu East Africa’s Managing Director.

Kipchoge received the award in the presence of his wife and expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying:

"The Samurai helmet is a great honour and a symbol of a success story. I dedicate it to all those who have contributed to my success. I believe that when you think positively, you are rewarded in a positive way. It is a law I live by and one that any human being should adopt,"

Isuzu, through their official social media handle, shared delightful photos of the occasion which was overseen by the company’s board Chairman Hiroshi Hisatomi, who acted on behalf of the company’s president Masanori Katayama.

In addition, the company extended Kipchoge’s contract as their brand ambassador for a further two years

Authors
Rene Otinga photo
Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.
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