Kenya’s Irine Cheptai is among the three finalists for the International Fair Play Award, celebrated as part of the World Athletics Awards 2026.Earlier this year, the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP), in partnership with World Athletics, again invited fans across the world to nominate moments that epitomise fair play with a view to recognising one standout athlete or moment.Download Our MozzartSport App for More NewsA jury was empanelled to review the nominations, and fans can now cast their votes through the World Athletics social media channels for the shortlisted moment that they feel best exemplifies fair play.Cheptai showed exceptional sportsmanship during the Sydney Marathon by sharing water with Australian Paralympic athlete Michael Roeger.Born without his lower right arm, Roeger missed four drink stations because the tables and bottles were positioned on the right-hand side of the course. At around the 30km mark, Cheptai did not hesitate to offer him her drink to help him continue.##NAJAVA_MECA_10095172##Roeger went on to finish in 2:18:36, breaking his own T46 marathon world record. Cheptai’s spontaneous act was a powerful example of empathy, inclusion and solidarity in sport.Her moment goes up against Pole vault stars Mondo Duplantis and Emmanouil Karalis, who were nominated for the way they combine fierce competition with genuine friendship and mutual respect.Their relationship was particularly evident at the Zurich Diamond League meeting, where they respectively cleared an outdoor world lead of 6.25m and a Greek record of 6.20m.Despite competing at the highest level and pushing each other to new heights, they demonstrated that ambition and rivalry do not have to come at the expense of camaraderie.Zimbabwean coach makes final list for 2026 Coach of the Year AwardTogether, they offer an inspiring example of how athletes can challenge one another, celebrate each other's achievements, and strengthen the spirit of the sport.Also in the running for the award are two Boston runners. After almost three hours on their feet and with the finish line in sight, the two sacrificed personal bests to come to the rescue of an exhausted competitor at the Boston Marathon.Aaron Beggs was the first to stop to pull Ajay Haridasse up off the ground after he fell and could not get up. With Haridasse still struggling to stay on his feet, another runner, Robson De Oliveira, stepped in and the pair put their arms around Haridasse to help him across the line.Sabastian Sawe inches closer to World Athletics award as Agnes Ngetich drops out
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