Chicago World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his Rwandese coach Garvais Hakizaman died in a road accident at Kaptagat along Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine road.
They passed on at 23:00 hours, Sunday, February 11, 2024 and their bodies were moved to MTRH Mortuary.
Kenyans have been heartbroken by the news as Kiptum was on course to become the first athlete to run a sub 2 hours in a official marathon.
Kenyans have continued to send their condolences to the family of the 24 years old man who was killed by a Toyota Primio car.
“Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record.
He was only 24 yet, as a hero, triumphed in Valencia, Chicago, London and in other top competitions. His mental strength and discipline were unmatched. Kiptum was our future.
An extraordinary sportsman has left an extraordinary mark in the globe. Our thoughts are with the family and the sporting fraternity. Rest In Peace,” President William Samoei Ruto wrote.
“Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon. Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight. My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity. Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero”, Wrote ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Kelvin Cheruiyot Kiptum, born on 2nd December 1999 was a Kenyan long-distance runner and the marathon World record holder.
He was the only person in history to run the marathon under two hours and one minute in a record-eligible race. He ran three of the seven fastest marathons in history.
Kelvin won three marathons he participated in, all renowned, including two top-tier World Marathon Majors (WMM), and held between December 2022 and October 2023.
The times he achieved are three of the six fastest times in history, a course record under 2:02-hour in each case, making him the only man ever to break this barrier thrice.
He ran the fastest ever marathon debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, becoming only the third man in history to break two hours and two minutes and setting the then fourth-quickest time ever.
Kiptum followed it up four months later with the second fastest marathon in history at 2:01:25, 16 seconds outside the world record, at the 2023 London Marathon (WMM).
In his next race, the Chicago Marathon (WMM) six months later in October 2023, he broke the world record by 34 seconds with a time of two hours 35 seconds.
