Kelvin Kiptum: Marathon world record holder dies in car crash …

Tragedy has struck the athletics world with the sudden passing of Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder, in a car crash in Kenya. Kiptum, just 24 years old, was driving with his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, and a third passenger when the vehicle veered off the road and hit a tree.¹

The accident occurred on the Eldoret-Kaptagat road, and both Kiptum and Hakizimana died at the scene. The third passenger, a 24-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.²

Kiptum’s rise to fame was nothing short of phenomenal. He broke the world record in only his third elite marathon appearance, completing the 2023 Chicago Marathon in an astonishing 2:00:35. This achievement made him the first man to run the marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute in an official race.

The athletics world is mourning the loss of this young talent, who was expected to dominate the sport for years to come. Kenyan President William Ruto described Kiptum as “our future,” highlighting the high expectations surrounding his career.