Source: Michael Reaves/Getty
Kelvin Kiptum, the men's world record holder marathon died in a car accident in his hometown Kenya during the weekend.
According References, men's marathon world record holder and rising star of long-distance running, Kelvin Kiptum, died in a car crash in his native Kenya on Sunday (February 11th) along with his coach, Gervais Hakizimana of Rwanda. Kiptum was 24 years old. A police spokesman said the accident occurred at 23:00 local time in the town of Kapsabet in western Kenya. Relaying details of the one-car accident, they revealed that Kiptum “lost control [of the vehicle] and went off the road entering a ditch on his left side.” The car then hit a tree, killing Kiptum and Hakizimana instantly. A third person, a 24-year-old woman, was seriously injured and taken to hospital.
Kiptum has been a fast-rising star in the world of distance running, having set a stunning Chicago Marathon record of two hours and 35 seconds, beating compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in just his third competitive race. Kiptum had just been named to the Kenyan national team alongside Kipchoge, with many expecting him to win the gold medal at this summer's Olympics in Paris. Hakizimana and Kiptum's team had also stated their goal for Kiptum to run the 26 miles in under two hours at the Rotterdam Marathon this April. Kipchoge paid tribute to Kiptum in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing in part that he “had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness”.
Kiptum came from the area around Kaspabet, considered the premier training ground for the world's best long-distance runners due to its high altitudes. The father of two started running on the road instead of starting on the track like most distance runners do, due to a lack of resources. “I didn't have money to travel to attend sessions,” he told them BBC in an interview last year.
Kenyan President William Rufo also offered his condolences in a statement, saying: “Kiptum was our future.” The young runner's death is another tragic chapter in the history of Kenyan runners who have lost their lives in road accidents. Pan African Games silver medalist David Lelei died in an accident in 2010. 2015 World Championships gold medalist Nicholas Bett died in an accident in 2018. Marathoner Francis Kiplagat also died in a car accident in 2018.
