The world of athletics is reeling today after the sudden death of Kenyan marathon superstar Kelvin Kiptum at the young age of 24. Kiptum, the reigning world marathon record holder with his blistering 2:00:35 time set in Chicago last year, was killed in a car accident Sunday night near his hometown in Kenya.
The accident occurred around 11 p.m. Sunday as Kiptum was driving his Toyota Premio in western Kenya. According to Elgeyo-Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge, the vehicle veered off the road and hit a tree. Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, 37, were tragically killed in the crash. A 24-year-old woman named Sharon Kosgey, who was also in the car, suffered serious injuries and is receiving medical attention.
Kiptum’s death has sent shockwaves through the athletic community. His meteoric rise to fame was nothing short of remarkable. Just a year before his record-breaking victory in Chicago, he had never run a marathon. His raw talent, combined with his dedication and positive attitude, made him a symbol of hope and potential.
“I didn’t know I’d be a great marathon runner,” Kiptum said humbly after his Chicago triumph, underscoring the natural ease with which he tackled the grueling distance. Fellow Kenyan runner and mentor Nahashon Kibon, who trained with Kiptum just one day before the accident, remembered him fondly: “He was a great man, jovial and full of life. We lost him too soon.“
Tributes poured in from prominent figures around the world. Kenyan President William Ruto called Kiptum “a star” and “arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen,” while former Prime Minister Raila Odinga described him as “a true hero.” Two-time Olympic champion David Rudisha echoed these sentiments, expressing shock and sadness at the young athlete’s passing.
Kiptum’s dreams extended far beyond his record-breaking run. He had set his sights on the 2024 Rotterdam Marathon, where he hoped to break the 2-hour barrier, and had aspirations of running in the Paris Olympics later that year. His death leaves a gaping hole in the world of athletics and robs us of a talent with the potential to rewrite history.