A Kenyan has received a prestigious award for a sports development initiative targeting young disadvantaged girls and young women.
Rachel Muthoga, of ‘Moving the Goalposts, received the ‘Sports for Good’ award in Berlin, Germany, on Monday night. This was during the Laureus World Sports Awards 2016.
Muthoga is the executive director of ‘Moving the Goalposts’, a community-based organisation targeting girls and young women in Kilifi and Kwale counties.
The organisation formed in 2001 aims to realise and protect the rights of the groups in the rural areas of the counties through football.
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams took the sportsman and sportswoman of the year awards for their tennis prowess.
Djokovic and American Williams, who fought off competition from footballer Carli Lloyd and Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce among others, were rewarded for dominating their sport last year, with each winning three of the four grand slams
Both athletes picked up the top prize for the third time, with Williams having previously won it in 2003 and 2010 while Djokovic was also victorious in 2012 and 2015.
In a glitzy ceremony in the German capital, hosted by US actor Bill Murray, Serbia’s Djokovic beat Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi, sprinter Usain Bolt and Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton among others for the top men’s award at the annual ceremony.
Brazil’s Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias was named Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. He won seven gold medals and a silver at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain.
It is the third Laureus Award for Dias, and a record, as he won in 2009 and 2013.
The Spirit of Sport Award was given to Dutch football legend and coach Johan Cruyff while the Team of the Year award was taken by New Zealand’s All Blacks, which won the Rugby World Cup.
Cruyff 68, who died from cancer on March 24, was recognised for helping deliver sports-related projects to underprivileged children around the world. His son Jordi picked the award.
German triathlete Jan Frodeno was named the Action Sportsperson of the Year after becoming World Iron-man champion.
Rugby player Dan Carter who helped the Blacks become champions after missing the 2011 final because of injury was awarded “Comeback of the Year” award.
US golfer Jordan Spieth, who won the Masters and US Open was gifted with the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ award.
Lifetime Achievement Award went to three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda.