Kenya’s marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, and his coach have reportedly been killed in a traffic accident in the Rift Valley on Sunday.
The 24-year-old had set the world record at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023, with a time total of two hours and 35 seconds, surpassing the mark of 2:01:09 run by compatriot, Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin in 2022.
Kiptum, had been hoping to become the first man to run the marathon in under two hours in race conditions at Rotterdam in April as well as make his Olympic debut in Paris in July before his untimely death.
Meanwhile, the World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe had in a statement, expressed shock and sadness upon learning of the crushing death of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
“On behalf of all World Athletics, we express our deepest condolences to their families, friends, team mates and the Kenyan nation. He was an incredible athlete who left an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
A police report had revealed that Kiptum was driving his Rwandan coach and one other (a woman) in a car near the Rift Valley village where he was born when tragedy struck.
The athlete had lost control of the vehicle and swerved off the road into a ditch, traveling for about 60 meters along it before crashing into a large tree.
Kiptum and Hakizimana had immediatelh died at the scene but the woman, Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei Keiyo (aged 24) had survived with serious injuries and is being treated at a local hospital.
Tributes have been pouring in from senior Kenyan politicians and fellow athletes.
