• Vivian Cheruiyot is an Olympics legend, competing in six events at four different Games
• Cheruiyot won Olympic gold in the 5000m at Rio 2016 but will miss Tokyo 2021
• Initially included in the Team Kenya athletics squad, coaches decided to drop Cheruiyot from the marathon team 

One of the biggest names in Kenyan athletics, Vivian Cheruiyot is an Olympics legend but she will sadly miss out on Tokyo 2021.

Team Kenya coaches opted to drop Cheruiyot from the marathon team just five years after she broke the Olympic record to clinch gold in the 5000m at Rio 2016.

However, her form following that success just hasn’t been up to scratch and the Team Kenya athletics roster is as competitive as ever.

Sports betting fans will have been expecting to see Cheruiyot named in the marathon squad for Tokyo 2021 but Kenya have opted to go in a different direction.

Without further ado, it is time to profile the Kenyan athlete and her career in the sport. It is unlikely we will see Cheruiyot competing at an Olympic Games again…

Vivian Cheruiyot Kenya Legend

If you look at Vivian Cheruiyot best times, records and medals, you’ll see a long list of accolades and achievements – both nationally and internationally.

From bursting onto the scene in the World Youth Championships in 1999 to winning the London marathon in 2018, Cheruiyot has achieved everything there is to achieve in the sport.

At 37 years old, her best days are behind her but Cheruiyot will go down in history as one of Team Kenya’s greatest athletes on the track.

Cheruiyot Wins Gold At Rio 2016

The highlight of Vivian Cheruiyot’s career so far was undoubtedly her gold medal performance at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Competing in the women’s 5000m event, Cheruiyot finally earned her place at the top of a podium at her fourth appearance at an Olympics.

Cheruiyot first appeared at the Olympics in 2000 but had to wait until London 2012 for her first medal. Four years and a baby later, Cheruiyot was about to cement her status as a Team Kenya legend.

A four-time world champion, Cheruiyot knows what it takes to win and she made a move with around 600m remaining to leave her rivals in her wake.

She powered away from Hellen Obiri and Almaz Ayana with that decisive move and she made it stick, breaking the Olympic record while clinching an emotional victory.

Vivian Cheruiyot Marathon Results

After her success at Rio 2016, Cheruiyot made the decision to tackle the most extreme trip of all: the marathon.

Prior to 2017, the Kenyan athlete had competed in the marathon just once but she adjusted quickly to the longer distance, winning the Frankfurt Marathon later that year.

She followed that effort up with a famous victory in the London Marathon in 2018 before going on to finish second in the New York City marathon seven months later.

She just failed to defend her London Marathon title, finishing second to compatriot Brigid Kosgei in 2019 and then slipping down the Kenyan marathon rankings.

With Cheruiyot not selected for Tokyo 2021, Kosgei looks like Kenya’s best chance of gold in the women’s event while Olympic legend Eliud Kipchoge will fly the flag for the men.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Matt Slocum / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 20th July 2021

• Aruna Quadri will represent Team Nigeria in table tennis at Tokyo 2021

• The 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist is making his third appearance at the Olympics

• He is widely regarded as the best African table tennis player competing at Tokyo this summer

Table tennis isn’t the most popular sport on the planet but it is a huge hit with viewers when it comes to the Olympic Games.

Sports betting fans will see the best players in the business competing at Tokyo 2020 and Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri is an interesting contender in the medal race.

Those looking to bet on the Olympics may recognise the name, though Nigeria are not exactly renowned for being a powerhouse in table tennis.

However, Quadri Aruna is a force to be reckoned with in Japan this summer and punters will be expecting big things from the Nigerian star.

Without further ado, it is time to look at Quadri Aruna’s impact and influence on table tennis – both in his native Nigeria and around the world.

Aruna Exceeds Expectations

Born in August 1988, Quadri Aruna learned the basics of table tennis in his hometown of Oyo and worked his way up the ladder to the top of the sport.

He represented Nigeria at London 2012 and Rio 2016, reaching the quarter-finals in Brazil and he will be hoping to emulate that achievement in Tokyo this summer.

It hasn’t always been plain sailing for Quadri, with a lack of funding for table tennis players in Nigeria impacting his chances to challenge for Olympic glory.

However, they have enjoyed some success over the years – the Nigerian reached the quarter-finals of the men’s singles tournament at the 2014 World Cup for example.

An aggressive player known for his forehand-winning skills, Aruna has ranked inside the top 30 table tennis players in the world for most of the last seven years.

Aruna was a pivotal member of the Nigerian team that won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and he has certainly helped to put table tennis on the map in the country.

Aruna Impresses At Rio 2016

Without a doubt, Aruna’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2016 Olympic Games will go down as the most remarkable feat of his international table tennis career.

He entered the men’s singles event in Rio as the 27th seed but defied the odds to reach the last eight – much to the delight of Olympics betting fans around the world.

Getting through the first round was an achievement in itself but Aruna claimed a major scalp when defeating fifth seed Chuang Chih-yuan in the second stage.

He didn’t just beat Chuang that day – he whitewashed him 4-0. It was the result of the round and quite possibly the result of the entire table tennis event at Rio 2016.

Aruna then breezed past Timo Boll with a convincing performance but would face top seed Ma Long in the quarter-finals.

While he suffered a 4-0 defeat in the quarters, Aruna exited the competition with his head held high and Long went onto sweep the gold medal match.

Aruna had a fantastic run in Rio, causing a major upset while beating a previous Olympics semi-finalist and four-time World Tour champion.

He wasn’t just competing for Nigeria, he was competing for every table tennis fan in Africa and Aruna should be exceptionally proud of his achievements in Brazil.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Petros Giannakouris / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 20th July 2021

• Julius Yego resigned as Team Kenya Olympics captain ahead of Tokyo 2021

• The Olympic silver medallist from Rio 2016 is a medal contender in the javelin event

• Yego is known as “Mr YouTube” after he learned how to throw the javelin by watching videos online

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Matt Dunham / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 20th July 2021

• 2016 Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon will look to defend her gold medal at Tokyo 2021

• The Kenyan athlete recorded the fourth fastest time in women’s 1500m history in July 2021

• Kipyegon has a fierce rivalry with fellow middle distance star Sifan Hassan

Faith Kipyegon has been a key figure for Team Kenya’s athletics squad since bursting onto the scene at the 2011 World U18s Championships.

An Olympic champion at Rio 2016, Kipyegon has won or finished second at every major event since turning 20 years old in 2014.

Kipyegon specialises in the 1500m race – an event in which Kenya have traditionally done well in at previous Olympic Games.

She recorded the fourth fastest time in history in July 2021, sending out a statement to all of her rivals ahead of this summer’s Olympics in Japan.

While Kipyegon is not a household name in the sports betting world, she has been dominant in the 1500m event and will be tough to beat in Tokyo.

So without further ado, it is time to take a look at one of Kenya’s top medal hopes for Tokyo 2021. Can Faith Kipyegon carry the weight of a nation? Only time will tell…

Kipyegon Bursts Onto Scene

Faith Kipyegon was just 17 years old when she grabbed the attention of athletics fans for the first time, clinching gold at the 2011 World U18s Championships.

She added another gold at the 2012 World U20 Championships to her resume but failed to reach the semi-finals of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

However, Kipyegon bounced back to claim victory in the junior races at the 2011 and 2013 World Cross Country Championships before finishing fifth in the 2013 World Championships – facing more experienced, senior athletes.

But it was in 2014 that Kipyegon really started to dominate the 1500m division, starting with her role in the 4x1500m relay at the IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas.

Kipyegon Builds Portfolio

Starring alongside Mercy Cherono, Irene Jelagat and Hellen Obiri, Kipyegon helped the Kenyan team to improve the World Record time to 16:33.58.
Later that year, Kipyegon proved her mettle by winning Commonwealth gold in the 1500m in Glasgow. The Kenyan was gaining a cult following across the continent…
A year later, she won silver at the World Championships but would bounce back quickly to win the Diamond League 1 mile race – beating rival Sifan Hassan.
And then came the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Kipyegon was already regarded as one of Team Kenya’s top athletes but gold in Brazil cemented her status as a legend.

Kipyegon Continues To Improve

There was no letting up for Kipyegon in the aftermath of that Rio success and she clinched the 1500m Diamond League title the following year.

However, her biggest achievement in 2017 was winning the World Championships in London – a feat that meant she became only the third women in history to win the Olympic and World Championships 1500m race.

Kipyegon gave birth to her first child in 2018 but returned for the World Championships in 2019, only to set a new Kenyan record while finishing second to Sifan Hassan.

While she has lost to Hassan on more than one occasion since, 2021 has been a huge year for the Kenyan athlete – breaking the national record at two separate Diamond League meetings.

Her effort in Monaco on 9th July 2021 saw Kipyegon record the fourth fastest time in history, finishing over two seconds clear of Hassan on that occasion.

Can she replicate that remarkable performance in Tokyo? If both women bring their best form to the table, the 1500m final is going to be some spectacle.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Matt Dunham / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 20th July 2021

• Eliud Kipchoge is one of the biggest names on the Kenyan athletics roster for Tokyo 2021

• The Kenya athletics star holds the marathon world record, breaking the previous time by 1 minute and 18 seconds

• Kipchoge successfully completed the Ineos 1:59 challenge in October 2019

A leading figure in the world of athletics, Eliud Kipchoge is a major icon in long-distance running and is a stalwart for Team Kenya at the Olympic Games.

Kipchoge made the Olympics squad in 2004 and 2008 but missed out on London 2012 after failing to qualify for the Kenyan team.

However, Kipchoge bounced back to clinch a remarkable gold medal in the marathon at Rio 2016 and that was the highlight of the Games for many sports betting fans.

Since stepping up to the most extreme distance race in athletics, Kipchoge has found a new lease of life and he completed the Ineos challenge in under two hours.

We’ll get onto Kipchoge’s Ineos challenge story a little later. For now, it’s time to look at the Kenyan athlete and his chances of winning gold at Tokyo 2021…

Eliud Kipchoge Net Worth

While exact salary earnings are unknown, long-distance superstar Eliud Kipchoge has an established net worth of around $3 million.

Like many athletes, Kipchoge has received annual sponsorships to compete on the big stage and his official Instagram page shows several advertisements and endorsement deals.

According to reports, the Kenyan athlete agreed a deal worth seven million Kenya shillings with Isuzu East Africa – one of the largest in the nation’s athletics history.

Another Olympic gold medal could see Kipchoge’s net worth soar, especially if he manages to set a world record. Follow Kipchoge at Tokyo 2021 here at 888sport…

Who Is Eliud Kipchoge’s Wife?

Grace Sugutt has been Kipchoge’s supportive wife since the couple tied the knot many years ago and they now share three children together.

Sugutt has previously recalled falling in love with Kipchoge at 19 years old, with a traditional Kenyan wedding following just one year later.

Now, Eliud and Grace have three kids – Lynne, Griffin and Gordon – and Grace is the glue that holds the entire family together.

Grace is so much more than Eliud’s wife; she looks after the family’s commercial interests and is a competent maize and dairy farmer.

INEOS 1:59 Challenge

Eliud Kipchoge sent shockwaves across the globe when he became the first human in history to run a full marathon in under two hours.

Held in the city of Vienna, Austria in October 2019, Kipchoge ran the course in 1:59.40 to the delight of thousands of spectators in attendance.

Kipchoge had a team of 41 pacemakers for the challenge, with some of the best middle and long-distance athletes helping the Team Kenya legend to break the two-hour mark.

The crowd held their breath as Kipchoge entered the closing stages of the race but erupted as he crossed the line in a record-breaking time to enter the marathon history books.

Many believe that Kipchoge proved his own ‘No Human Is Limited’ mission statement to be true and his feat was akin to Sir Roger Bannister’s sub-four minute mile and Usain Bolt’s 100m world record.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Ronald Zak / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 20th July 2021

• Hellen Obiri is one of Kenya’s top medal hopes ahead of Tokyo 2021

• Obiri won silver in the women’s 5000m final at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro

• A two-time world champion over the distance, Obiri is a leading contender for Olympic gold this summer

Born in December 1989, Hellen Obiri has been on the long-distance running scene for the best part of a decade and she will be involved once again at Tokyo 2021.

Obiri has gained a wealth of experience on the international stage, winning two world titles while claiming the silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

While sports betting fans may not have heard of Obiri, keen athletics followers will know all about her – she has a genuine opportunity to win gold in Japan this summer.

The Kenyan athletics team is always strong heading into the Olympics but Obiri is one of the top medal hopes for the nation and the 5000m division is there for the taking.

Without further ado, we’re going to look at some of Hellen Obiri’s biggest achievements on the track ahead of what could be a huge summer for Team Kenya.

Obiri Does It On The Big Stage

Some athletes crumble under pressure, others thrive on the biggest platform. Obiri relishes the chance to showcase her talent against the best in the business.

The Kenyan star is a two-time world champion at 5000m and she has set national records for several distances, including the mile, 3000m and 5000m events.

Having won gold at the World Championships in 2017 and 2019, Obiri also has an Olympic silver on her resume – and she could go one better in Tokyo later this summer.

Like compatriot Faith Kipyegon, Obiri was named as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans in 2017 and she will have an entire nation behind her at Tokyo 2021.

Whether it’s the World Championships, the Olympic Games or the African Championships, Obiri consistently turns up and performs at the highest level.

Those looking for Olympics betting tips will see the name Helen Obiri crop up consistently in the long-distance running sections. That is a tip in itself! 

Hellen Obiri Journey Not Over Yet

Athletics fans can follow Hellen Obiri at Tokyo 2020 but she also documents her life – both on and off the track – on her social media channels.

In fact, the Hellen Obiri Instagram page is well worth a follow for running fans. The Kenyan star often documents training clips and tips on how to stay fit and in shape.

In addition, Obiri regularly posts motivational messages on her Instagram and they can be helpful for those also training to run long-distances.

Tokyo 2020 might be her final chance to clinch an Olympic gold medal and she is going to give everything she can to finish top of the podium.

Hellen Obiri’s journey has been fascinating for athletics fans to follow but the Team Kenya stalwart may have one more chapter to write in Tokyo this summer. Watch this space…

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Nariman El-Mofty / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 20th July 2021

• Beatrice Chepkoech will represent Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021
• She won the 3000m Steeplechase final at the 2019 World Athletics Championships
• Chepkoech set a new world record for the event at the Monaco Diamond League in 2018

Beatrice Chepkoech is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in the 3000m steeplechase event, holding the official world record in the race since July 2018.

She became the first women to break 8:50.00 and 8:45.00 in the discipline and she has been a revelation since making the switch to track running in 2015.

One of the top names on the Team Kenya squad for Tokyo 2021, Chepkoech will bid to better her fourth placed finish at the Rio Olympics.

Kenyan athletics fans will expect Chepkoech to challenge for a medal in Japan this summer and this could be her final chance to race at an Olympic Games.

So if you’re looking at betting on the Olympics, consider Chepkoech to finish on the podium as the Kenyan runner will be desperate to make sure her trip to Japan is a successful one.

Chepkoech Out To Avenge Rio Fourth

Nobody wants to finish fourth at the Olympics but Chepkoech had to do just that at Rio 2016, with the Kenyan missing out on a medal despite winning her heat.

Chepkoech was ranked fifth in the world heading into the 2016 Olympics but had to settle for fourth behind Ruth Jebet, Hyvin Kiyeng and Emma Coburn.

With Ruth Jebet ruled out of the upcoming Games due to suspension, Chepkoech has a score to settle with Kiyeng and Coburn – but she has been in blistering form since 2018.

Since that fourth in Rio, Chepkoech has been crowned world champion in Doha in 2019 and she goes into Tokyo 2021 in arguably the form of her life.

As of July 13th 2021, Chepkoech is the number one ranked women’s 3000m steeplechase runner on the planet and she has a favourite’s chance at Tokyo 2021.

Chepkoech Breaks 5km World Record

In February 2021, Chepkoech recorded another world record in the 5km Monaco Run – just three years after she clocked the fastest ever 3000m steeplechase time.

The Kenyan athlete shaved a full second from Sifan Hassan’s official world record, which was also set in Monaco but in a women-only race in 2019.

Chepkoech had Netherlands’ Luuk Maas as her pacemaker on that occasion and smashed the previous record in a mixed gender race, which was held by compatriot Caroline Kipkirui.

With that effort coming earlier this year, it is fair to expect Chepkoech to be primed for gold at Tokyo 2021. Sports betting fans, take note…

Chepkoech Wins Gold In Doha

The greatest performance of her professional athletics career, Chepkoech ran her rivals into submission when clinching gold at the 2019 World Athletics Championship in Doha.

She finished almost five seconds clear of Coburn, who herself ran a personal best that day, but Chepkoech was on another level and nobody was going to beat her.

That run is perhaps the best form in the book heading into Tokyo 2021 but Chepkoech won’t be taking anything for granted ahead of this summer’s Games.

She has raced seven times in 2021, finishing on the podium in all seven events. Chepkoech is one of Team Kenya’s main medal hopes this year and punters will be following her progress closely throughout the heats.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Hassan Ammar / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 20th July 2021

• The Gibraltar Open has been a part of the Players Tour Championship since 2015

• Judd Trump is the two-time defending champion, having beaten Jack Lisowski in the 2021 final

• Read on for more on the history of the Gibraltar Open and its past winners

The Gibraltar Open is a relatively new event in the world of snooker. It might not carry the history and prestige of other tournaments, but it has been home to some of the biggest names in snooker betting.

Finding betting tips for the Gibraltar Open might be trickier than the couple of weeks at the World Championships.

First played just a few years ago, this event has already provided some excellent snooker, though the prize money is incomparable to the Triple Crown tournaments.

As of July 2021, Judd Trump is the most successful player in the Gibraltar Open’s short history with two titles. Trump was victorious in 2020 and 2021.

Read below for the history of the event, when it’s held, previous winners and more.

Gibraltar Open Snooker History

In recent memory, the Gibraltar Open is perhaps best known for the shock return of Stephen Hendry in 2021. Despite only being around for a few years, the tournament has also witnessed some moments of snooker history.

In March 2020, Judd Trump’s Gibraltar Open win made him the first player ever to win six ranking events in a single season.

Betting at the Gibraltar Open has been a tricky business. The quality of the field has varied, and the event jumping from minor ranking in 2015 to a proper ranking event two years later certainly helped to change the perception.

Marco Fu dominated Michael White 4-1 in the 2015 final. That wasn’t the most significant part of the competition, however, as Fu also recorded the 116th official maximum break in his last 64 match.

This success came just a few months before Fu won the Scottish Open, one of the best moments of his career. Fu opted not to defend his title in 2017. It was still a field with plenty of talent, even when Mark Selby fell in the last 32.

Trump found his way to his first final at the Gibraltar Open, but he was outplayed by Shaun Murphy. This was the seventh ranking title of the former world champion’s career.

Once again, the defending champion was unable to fight for his title in the following year. Injury issues kept Murphy away from the 2018 Gibraltar Open, leading to another first-time winner.

Ryan Day won just his second career ranking title, and the Welshman made it all the way to the final again in 2019.

Dreams of going back-to-back were not to be realised for Day. Stuart Bingham came from a set down with a string of excellent breaks to win 4-1.

This was the 11th ranking final of Bingham’s strong career, and the second time he’d met Day in a final of any type. The 2020s have belonged to Trump. Bingham fell in the third round in 2020 due to a surprise 4-0 defeat to Ben Woolaston.

Kyren Wilson and Trump were the best players throughout the competition, setting up what was an epic final.

Both played some exceptional snooker, taking it to a deciding frame, which Trump clinched for a record-breaking sixth ranking title of the season.

The 2021 tournament saw Hendry fall in the first round upon his return to professional snooker. After that, it was all about Trump, as he defended his title, dropping just three frames along the way.

Where is the Gibraltar Open held?

The Gibraltar Open takes place in Gibraltar, as the name suggests. It’s usually held at the Europa Point Sports Complex, to be precise.

This was the case in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The event, however, like many on the snooker calendar, switched to Milton Keynes in 2021. It is expected to return to Gibraltar in 2022.

When is the 2022 Gibraltar Open?

The 2021 tournament took place at the start of March, between the 1st and 7th. Between 2018 and 2020, though, the Gibraltar Open was played a week or two later.

The 2017 event was again locked into the first week of the month, with the final being played on 5th March. Before the Gibraltar Open snooker event become a full ranking tournament, it was played in mid-December in 2015.

Gibraltar Open Prize Money

The prize fund for the first Gibraltar Open was around £100,000. Since becoming a ranking event, it has doubled, with the finalists taking home a combined £70,000.

The £50,000 for winning the event sits fairly alongside other ranking events. In 2019/20, the Riga Masters had a similar prize money setup. The Snooker Shoot Out has near-identical financial reward.

It, of course, cannot come close to more prestigious events. For instance, the World Grand Prix handed out £100,000 to the winner in 2019/20, and half a million is on offer for winning the World Championships.

Here’s the complete list of Gibraltar Open prize money in 2021…

• Winner: £50,000

• Runner-up: £20,000

• Semi-final: £6,000

• Quarter-final: £5,000

• Last 16: £4,000

• Last 32: £3,000

• Last 64: £2,000

• Highest break: £5,000

Previous Gibraltar Open Winners

The strength of the draw has varied from year-to-year at the Gibraltar Open. Snooker referees have overseen some of the sport’s best, with Mark Selby competing on numerous occasions, but Ronnie O’Sullivan has never participated.

It’s a short Gibraltar Open winners’ list, headlined by Marco Fu’s run in 2015. Judd Trump is the only player to win it more than once, and his triumph in 2021 is the most impressive run of snooker the event has seen.

Trump has also been a runner-up. Ryan Day is the only other player to appear in the final on multiple occasions – Day in 2018 and lost to Stuart Bingham in the 2019 final. 

• 2015 – Marco Fu

• 2017 – Shaun Murphy

• 2018 – Ryan Day

• 2019 – Stuart Bingham

• 2020 – Judd Trump

• 2021 – Judd Trump

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Aijaz Rahi / AP Photo*