Kenya’s 24-year-old Kelvin Kiptum, the current men’s marathon world record holder, met a tragic end in a road accident in his home country. The accident, which occurred on a road in western Kenya on Sunday, also claimed the life of Kiptum’s coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana.
In 2023, Kiptum emerged as a significant figure in marathon running, challenging the likes of Eliud Kipchoge, one of the greatest marathon runners. His notable achievement came in Chicago last October, surpassing Kipchoge’s record by completing the 26.1 miles (42km) in an impressive two hours and 35 seconds.
Both Kiptum and Kipchoge had been named in Kenya’s provisional marathon team for the upcoming Paris Olympics later this year. The sudden loss of Kiptum has left the sports community in shock and mourning.
Kenyan Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba expressed his grief, stating, “Devastatingly sickening!! Kenya has lost a special gem. Lost for words.” Raila Odinga, Kenya’s opposition leader and former prime minister, described Kiptum as “a true hero” and mourned the loss of “a remarkable individual… and Kenyan athletics icon.”
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, paid tribute to Kiptum, saying, “an incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
The fatal road accident occurred around 23:00 local time on Sunday, with Kiptum as the driver. The vehicle lost control and rolled, leading to the immediate deaths of Kiptum and his coach. A female passenger in the vehicle sustained injuries and was rushed to the hospital.
Kiptum’s recent announcement of attempting to run the marathon distance in under two hours at the Rotterdam marathon added to the tragedy. The accomplished athlete, a father of two, had rapidly risen to fame, running his first full marathon in 2022 after starting his career on the road due to a lack of resources.
His coach, Hakizimana, a retired Rwandese runner, played a pivotal role in Kiptum’s journey. Their coach-athlete relationship began in 2018, and Hakizimana fondly recalled knowing Kiptum as a young boy herding livestock barefooted in 2009. Hakizimana expressed gratitude for Kiptum’s achievements, marking a tragic end to a promising partnership.
