Rabat – Marathon world record holder, Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum died in a traffic accident in western Kenya on Sunday, according to Kenyan police.
Kiptum’s coach Gervais Hakizimana also lost his life in the accident, the same source added.
“The event occurred at eleven o’clock at night (20:00 GMT). Three people were traveling in the car, two of whom died instantly and the third was taken to the hospital. The two are Kiptum and his coach,” said Peter Mulenge, police commissioner in Elgeyo-Marakwet County in Kenya.
“Kiptum was driving towards Eldoret, and he lost control … and two people died instantly. A woman who was in the car was taken to the hospital’s emergency department.”
Sebastian Coe, British International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President, commented on Kiptum’s death: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.”
He added, “On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.” Kiptom’s killing is reminiscent of the shocking death of Kenyan marathon runner Samuel Wanjiru who died at the same age. The 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medalist was killed in 2011 after falling from a balcony.
Kiptom started his career as a runner in 2016. In 2019, he ran two half marathons in Copenhagen and Belfort, when his coach suggested training for the full marathon. Complying with his coach’s suggestion, the Kenyan athlete won his first marathon in Valencia in late 2022, recording 2:01:53.
In October 2023, the 24-year-old athlete set a new world record of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon, surpassing his compatriot’s record Eliud Kipchoge.
“Breaking a world record is not something I thought about today, but I knew I would break this record one day,” said Kiptum upon crossing the finish line.
The Kenyan athlete was also close to breaking another record during his participation in the London Marathon last April, when he clinched gold at a time of 2:01.25.
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