- Kiptum and his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a tragic road accident Sunday night at Kaptagat area along the Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine road.
- Kiptum was driving a vehicle heading to Eldoret when the accident occured.
World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum is dead.
Kiptum and his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a tragic road accident Sunday night in the Kaptagat area along the Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine road.
Kiptum is said to have been the one driving the vehicle heading to Eldoret when the accident occured.
“The accident happened around 11 pm. The car had three occupants, two died on the spot while one was taken to hospital,” Elgeyo Marakwet County Commandant Peter Mulinge said.
Athletics Kenya has since mourned the death of the record world holder and his coach saying:
"Athletics Kenya is deeply saddened to announce the passing on of the World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana. Our condolences go out to their families and the entire athletics community during this difficult time."
Kiptum broke Eliud Kipchoge's world record in Chicago last October, running 26.1 miles in two hours and 35 seconds.
Last week, his team announced that he would attempt to run the distance in under two hours at the Rotterdam marathon - a feat that has never been achieved in open competition.
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics has mourned Kiptum and described Kiptum as "an incredible athlete".
"We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss. On behalf of all World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation," Coe said in a statement on X platform.
"It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon World Record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time. An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly."
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba has described his death as "devastatingly sickening!! Kenya has lost a special gem. Lost for words".
ODM leader Raila Odinga in his condolence message said "our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero".
Kiptum was born on December 2, 1999, and is a Kenyan long-distance runner and the Marathon World Record holder (2:00:35).
He is the only person in history to run a marathon under 2:01:00 in a record-eligible race.
Kiptum holds three of the top six fastest marathons ever run.
He ran the fastest-ever marathon debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, becoming the third man in history to break two hours and two minutes
Kiptum followed with a debut at a World Marathon Major, winning the 2023 London Marathon in what was then the second-fastest time in history of 2:01:25, 16 seconds outside the then-world record.
In the 2023 Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023, Kiptum set a new marathon world record with a time of 2:00:35.
At the age of 18, in October 2018, Kiptum won the Eldoret Half Marathon with a time of 1:02:01