Kelvin Kiptum, a 24-year-old marathon record holder, died suddenly over the weekend in Kenya.
The star athlete, who specialized in long-distance running, was set to compete in the Rotterdam marathon in April, per NBC Chicago, and had hopes of winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer.
Car accident kills marathoner Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana
Kiptum died in a car crash in Kenya on Feb. 11. The crash happened near Kaptagat in western Kenya, Kiptum’s home country. The runner was driving, and the car veered off the road into a ditch and hit a tree, police said, according to NBC Chicago.
Kiptum’s coach, Gervais Hakizimana of Rwanda, also died in the accident, which occurred around 11 p.m. A third person, a 24-year-old woman, was in the car and taken to a hospital with “serious injuries,” the outlet reported.
President of Kenya William Ruto put out a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, in light of the sad news.
“Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record,” the statement read. “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.”
How did Kelvin Kiptum die?
Kiptum died in a car accident in western Kenya on Feb. 11. He died at the scene, according to NBC Chicago, as did his coach. Kiptum’s friend Kenneth Kimaiyo told the outlet that Kiptum was thrown from the car due to the crash. The car was also severely damaged, photos of the scene show.
What was Kelvin Kiptum’s marathon time?
In October 2023, Kiptum ran the Chicago marathon in 2:00:35 — his third-ever experience running an elite marathon.
His second elite marathon was in London in 2023, where he ran 2:01:25, missing the world record at…
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