Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach tragically lost their lives in a car accident on February 11 in Kenya. According to local officials, Kiptum, who was behind the wheel, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and collide with a tree. There were no other vehicles involved in the incident.
As per multiple accounts, the prevailing opinion among sports analysts was that Kiptum was poised to become the next long-distance running legend and the primary contender for gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In recent months, prominent sporting publications like Marca and the Corriere Dello Sport have consistently highlighted Kiptum as a potential star attraction of the event, drawing comparisons to legendary figures like Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps.
At the age of 24, this long-distance runner shattered the men’s marathon world record during his third participation in an elite marathon event in Chicago in 2023.
The tragic accident involving Kiptum sent shockwaves across his country, where long-distance runners have reigned as the premier sports stars for several decades. Nevertheless, Kiptum’s passing is not an isolated incident, as Kenya has witnessed the untimely deaths of several prominent sportsmen in various accidents over recent years.
According to Kenyan authorities, Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, tragically lost their lives immediately after colliding with a tree at 11 pm local time. The incident occurred in the town of Kaptagat in Kenya’s western region, situated in the core of a high-altitude area renowned as the training hub for the nation’s top long-distance runners.
Relatives and renowned Kenyan athletes, among them Kiptum’s father, assembled at the hospital mortuary where he and Hakizimana were transported. Milcah Chemos, a former Kenyan women’s steeplechase superstar and world champion, attempted to deliver a speech but was overcome with emotion, breaking down in tears. She expressed her inability to articulate her feelings or comprehend the magnitude of Kiptum’s loss.
