World Marathon Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum Dies In Car Crash

Kelvin Kiptum Died In A Car Crash In Kenya

Marathon world record-holder and Olympic 2024 favourite Kelvin Kiptum died in a car crash in western Kenya, police said on Monday. The 24-year-old was driving from Kaptagat to Eldoret around 11 pm (2000 GMT) on Sunday when the his rolled, killing the young sensation and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana.

“The car had three occupants of whom two died on the spot, while one was taken to hospital. The two who died are Kelvin Kiptum and his coach,” said Peter Mulinge, police commander for Elgeyo Marakwet County in western Kenya where the accident took place.

“It was Kiptum who was driving the car, heading to Eldoret. The vehicle lost control and rolled, killing the two on the spot. A female passenger sustained injuries and has been rushed to hospital,” he told reporters.

Kiptum literally exploded onto the global marathon scene when he ran a world record 2:00:35 in Chicago in October, taking 34 seconds off fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge’s previous record. He was the world’s first man to run the marathon distance in under 2 hours and 1 minute in an official race. Kipchoge, whose record he demolished, is the reigning two-time Olympic champion.

Kiptum was only 23 years old at the time, and competing in just his third marathon.

Earlier, he also won his other two efforts, his debut in Valencia in 2022 and a follow-up in London the following year. Notably, he had announced that he would attempt to become the first man to run an official marathon under the two-hour mark in Rotterdam on April 14.

Kiptum Was The Hot Favourite For The Forthcoming Olympics 2024

He was the overwhelming favourite for the forthcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. The world of marathoners is shocked beyond belief at his untimely demise. World Athletics remembered Kiptum as “one of the most exciting new prospects to emerge in road running in recent years”. “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said in a statement.