The young 24-year-old athlete who held the marathon world record, Kelvin Kiptumlost his life along with his coach Gervais Hakizimana in a tragic car accident occurred on the route that connects Eldoret and Kaptagat, two towns in the Rift Valley, known for being the region where most long-distance runners of Kenyan origin usually train.
Local police reports indicated that the vehicle in question was carrying three people, two of whom had a fatal outcomewhile the third was hospitalized.
“The two deceased are Kiptum and his coach”said Peter Mulinge, police commander of Elegeyo Marakwet county in western Kenya.
“It was Kiptum who was driving towards Eldoret when he lost control [del automóvil]”, which caused the tragic death of the athlete and his coach. “A female passenger was injured and was rushed to hospital,” Mulinge added.
Kelvin Kiptum. Photos: AFP
Kiptum was consecrated after establishing the best world brand (timed in 2 hours and 35 seconds) in the Chicago Marathon that took place last October and was in the preparation phase for the Paris Olympic Games.
That legendary Kiptum mark was the third time it was set as a men’s world record in Chicago, and the first since 1999, when Moroccan Khalid Khannouchi did it.
Kiptum had also won his two previous marathonsboth in its debut in Valencia in 2022 and the following year in London.
The Kenyan athlete promised to continue destroying his discipline since His immediate goal was to become the first athlete to break the two-hour mark. in official marathons, with the perspective of achieving it in the Rotterdam (Netherlands) competition to be held on April 14.
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The president of World Athletics mourned the “devastating loss”
Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, said he was “shocked and saddened to learn of this devastating loss.”
“On behalf of World Athletics, we send our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, colleagues and to Kenya“Coe said in a statement.
“This incredible athlete leaves an incredible legacy, he will be greatly missed.”
World Athletics indicated that since last October he had not competed again but that he was preparing to reappear in the Rotterdam marathon.
Two-time Kenyan Olympic 800m champion David Rudixha called Kiptum’s death “a huge loss.”
Athletics Kenya He sent his condolences “to the entire athletic community at this difficult time.”
Coach Hakizimana, originally from Rwanda, was a runner who trained for years in Kenyawhere he met Kiptum in the town of Chepkorio.
Kiptum’s untimely death is reminiscent of that of another great Kenyan marathoner, Samuel Wanjiru, who also lost his life at the age of 24.
Wanjiru, Olympic champion in 2008 in Beijing, died in 2011 after falling from a balcony.
The previous world record for the maximum distance was held by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, 34 seconds more than Kiptum.
With information from AFP
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