Many face the heartbreaking loss of Kelvin Kiptum, who passed away, leaving a legacy of unprecedented achievements. Just days before his tragic accident, Kiptum shared a moment of triumph on social media.
The athletics world is in mourning after the tragic loss of marathon world record holder and Kenyan athlete Kelvin Kiptum at the age of 24. Kiptum died in a road accident in Kenya on Sunday.
The sorrow was compounded by the loss of his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, who was also in the car with him during the accident that led to their deaths. Kiptum's life was a testament to the remarkable feats he achieved, which included the ratification of his marathon world record, a record he set with a time of 2:00.35 at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023.
Kelvin Kiptum running a race posted on December 31, 2023 | Source: Instagram/kelvinkiptumcheruiyot
Kelvin Kiptum running a race posted on December 31, 2023 | Source: Instagram/kelvinkiptumcheruiyot
Kiptum's social media post, shared just days before his untimely death, celebrated this significant achievement, marking a high point in his career. Along with condolences from Kenyan President William Ruto, tributes have poured in from many people.
Kenyan politician Raila Odinga and Sebastian Coe, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations, both expressed their condolences and highlighted Kiptum's remarkable contributions to the sport.
Odinga lamented the loss of a promising talent, stating, "Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon."
Coe emphasized the significant void Kiptum's passing leaves in athletics, "We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana [...] An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly."
According to police officials, it appeared as though the vehicle veered off the road, hit a ditch, and then struck a tree. Additionally, there was a third passenger—a woman—in the car, who was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. The depth of this tragedy was further underscored as Kiptum's father and other family members were present to identify his body.
Another athlete, Milcah Chemos, was also present at the hospital mortuary where their bodies were taken, and she relayed the tragic news to a news outlet. She divulged, "I have no words to explain the loss of Kelvin."
Kelvin Kiptum posing with other award winners, Noah Lyles and Mondo Duplantis posted on December 12, 2023 | Source: Instagram/kelvinkiptumcheruiyot
Aside from his world record, Kiptum had also been recognized for his exceptional talent and dedication to athletics with the Men’s Athlete of the Year out of Stadia award last year. This accolade, alongside his world record, highlighted the late athletic legend's rising status in the world of long-distance running.