Men’s marathon world record holder, Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum is dead.
Gatekeepers News reports that 25-year-old Kiptum died in a road accident in his home country.
The car accident in western Kenya, also took away the life of his coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana.
AFP news agency quoted police as saying a third person was taken to hospital after the accident which occurred around 23:00 local time (20:00 GMT).
Kiptum made a stunning breakthrough in 2023 as a rival to his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge – whose record he later beat.
In October, 2023, Kiptum bettered Kipchoge’s achievement, after running the 26.1 miles (42km) in two hours and 35 seconds.
Giving further details of the crash, police said Kiptum was the driver, and the vehicle “lost control and rolled, killing the two on the spot”.
A spokesman quoted by AFP added that the third passenger – who was female – had been injured and “rushed to hospital”.
Just last week, his team announced that he would attempt to run the distance in under two hours at the Rotterdam marathon – a feat that has never been achieved in open competition.
In reaction to his death, Kenya’s opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, on X, said the country had lost “a true hero” and was mourning “a remarkable individual… and Kenyan athletics icon.”
The president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe described Kiptum as “an incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
