Daniel Simiu reacts to being shortlisted for International Fair Play Award by World Athletics

ATHLETICS Daniel Simiu reacts to being shortlisted for International Fair Play Award by World Athletics

Abigael Wafula 15:46 - 05.11.2023

Daniel Simiu has expressed how he felt after being shortlisted for the International Fair Play Award.

World Half Marathon silver medallist Daniel Simiu has disclosed how it felt like being shortlisted for this year’s International Fair Play Award by World Athletics.

Simiu was shortlisted due to his sportsmanship during the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.

In first place during the closing stages of the men’s half marathon, Simiu saluted his teammate Sebastian Sawe as Sawe overtook him for gold. Simiu finished second in the race.

“I am happy to have been shortlisted for the award (International Fair Play) …it just came by surprise," he said.

"I don’t know what made them select me but I’m happy…If I win I’ll be happy and if I lose I will also be happy. I will still clap for the one who wins until my turn comes.

Simiu explained that he saw Sawe struggling to go and defeat him and he decided to give him a chance to overtake him and take the top honours.

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“I don’t even know what was running through my mind at the time…I saw him running behind me and he was struggling and I told him to just go before me. I think, next time it will be me,” Simiu explained.

He is just fresh from winning the third leg of the Athletics Kenya Cross-country meets and he hopes to do better in the coming races.

Simiu clocked 28:41 ahead of Edwin Bett who clocked 28:45 to finish second. Vincent Langat completed the podium after clocking 28:45.