Kenya mourns the untimely death of 24-year-old marathon prodigy Kelvin Kiptum, who held the world record, following a fatal car crash on Sunday night.
Kiptum, a father of two, was on his way from Kaptagat to Eldoret in the Rift Valley of western Kenya when his car veered off the road and collided with a tree around 11:00 pm (2000 GMT).
Both Kiptum and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana lost their lives at the scene, while a female passenger, Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital, according to the official police report from Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Images circulating in Kenyan media depict the wreckage of the vehicle, with a shattered windscreen, buckled roof, and doors almost torn off.
Kiptum rose to prominence in October when he set a new marathon world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago, surpassing the previous record held by Eliud Kipchoge by 34 seconds. Kiptum’s remarkable achievement marked only his third marathon, following victories in Valencia in 2022 and London the next year.
Eliud Kipchoge expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Kiptum as a “rising star” with a promising future.
Kenya’s President William Ruto described Kiptum as “one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record”.
The late athlete had ambitious plans to attempt to break the two-hour marathon mark in April, aiming to become the first man to achieve this feat.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighted Kiptum’s incredible legacy, mourning the loss of a promising talent in road running.
Faith Kipyegon, a world-record holder in the 1500m and 5000m, paid tribute to Kiptum with three crying emojis and the Kenyan flag on social media.
Kiptum and Kipchoge were anticipated to run together at the Paris Olympics, adding to the sense of loss just days before the event. Paul Tergat, president of Kenya’s National Olympic Committee, expressed condolences and emphasized Kiptum’s potential for a bright Olympic future.
The tragic incident follows a series of unfortunate events in Kenya’s athletics community, including the deaths of marathon great Samuel Wanjiru in 2011, distance running star Agnes Tirop in 2021, and Kenyan-born Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat in December. The incidents underscore the fragility of young athletics hopefuls facing unexpected tragedies.
As Kenya mourns the loss of Kelvin Kiptum, the global athletics community remembers an extraordinary talent whose promising career was cut short in a tragic car crash.
