Kelvin Kiptum, the world record holder for marathons, and his coach were killed in a car accident in Kenya late Sunday, according to a fellow athlete who visited the hospital and saw Kiptum’s body.
Kiptum was 24 years old and on his way to become a long-distance running sensation.
Kiptum and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana were killed in the incident at around 11 p.m., according to Kenyan runner Milcah Chemos, who was at the hospital when the bodies were transported.
The accident occurred on a route between the towns of Eldoret and Kaptagat in western Kenya, she added, in the heart of a high-altitude region known as a training ground for long distance runners.
Chemos stated that she was one of several athletes who went to the hospital in Eldoret after learning about the collision. Kiptum’s family members were also present to help identify his body, Chemos added.
According to Kenyan media, a third person in the car, a woman, was seriously injured and taken to the same hospital.
Kiptum was the first guy to complete the marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute. He achieved a new world record of 2:00.35 at the Chicago Marathon in October, surpassing fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge’s time.
World Athletics, the world track federation, certified Kiptum’s record last week.
Kenyan athletics federation president Jackson Tuwei said he sent a team of authorities to the scene after learning of the late-night mishap.
Kiptum made an immediate impact by running the quickest time ever by a marathon debutant at the 2022 Valencia Marathon. He won last year’s London and Chicago marathons, two of the world’s most prestigious races.
Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics, was among the first to express his sorrow in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana,” Coe said in a statement. “On behalf of all World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.”
“I was only able to officially ratify Kelvin’s amazing time earlier this week, in Chicago, when he set his extraordinary marathon world record. “An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy; we will miss him dearly,” Coe remarked.