World record holder and London marathon winner Kelvin Kiptum dies aged just 24
LONDON Marathon winner and world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has died aged just 24.
The Kenyan long-distance runner died in a car accident on Sunday along with his coach Garvais Hakizimana.
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Kiptum won the London Marathon last April and broke the course record by crossing the line in two hours, one minute and 25 seconds.
Just months later, he broke the world marathon record in Chicago, completing the 26-mile race in just two hours and 35 seconds.
The international track federation World Athletics had only ratified his records last week.
Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga confirmed that Kiptum had died on
“Together with his coach, they tragically died tonight.”
“My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends and the entire athletics fraternity.
“Our nation mourns the profound loss of a true hero.”
The accident happened on a road in western Kenya, a high-altitude area often used as a training base for long-distance athletes.
The London Marathon organizers said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible news of the deaths of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
“The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with the family and friends of Kelvin and Gervais.”
World Athletics President Seb Coe said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
“On behalf of all World Athletics, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.
“It wasn't until earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.
“An incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
Local reports state that a second passenger, a lady identified as Sharon Kosgey, was in the car at the time of the crash.
She survived the impact, but with serious injuries, and was rushed to Racecourse Hospital for medical attention.
The bodies of Kiptum and Hakiziman were taken to the hospital mortuary.
Elgeyo Marakwet police commander Petr Mulinge confirmed that the accident occurred around 11pm (8pm GMT) on Sunday.
According to Mulinge, Kiptum lost control of the vehicle, left the road and ended up in a ditch about 200 feet away before crashing into a tree.
He added that Kiptum and Hakizimana “died on the spot”.
Kiptum was currently training to run a short two-hour run during the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14.
He was also selected by Kenya for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
How Kelvin Kiptum went from borrowing shoes to winning the London Marathon
Kelvin Kiptum was known as the only person in history to run the marathon in under two hours and one minute in a race that qualified for a record.
But the Kenyan, 24, had to rise from the depths of poverty before his remarkable success.
When he lined up for his first major local race in 2018, Kiptum did so with borrowed running shoes because he couldn't afford a pair of his own.
Kiptum started his career on the road, breaking with the previous tradition of athletes starting on the track before moving on to longer distances.
But that wasn't by choice.
Kiptum claims he made the decision purely due to a lack of resources.
“I didn't have money to travel to track sessions,” he explained BBC Sports Africa.
“My training spot is far from a track, so I started training with guys who run on the road – and that's how I got into marathoning.”
Why it took Kiptum 23 YEARS to agree to run a marathon
Kiptum may have been a world record holder and champion, but it took a lot of convincing to get him into the top spot.
According to his coach, Garvais Hakizimana, Kiptum needed time to warm up to the idea of running a marathon.
The Kenyan initially feared that it might be too tough.
“He had some apprehension and preferred the shorter half marathon until 2022 when he finally agreed to a marathon,” Hakizimana told BBC Sport Africa.
A few years later, Kiptum would achieve 42 kilometer triumphs in Valencia, London and Chicago.
But there were other complications that stood in the way of Kiptum realizing his potential.
Kiptum had to convince his family that he could make it in athletics.
His father had been convinced that he should go to college instead.
“He wanted me to go to college to get my electrician's degree, but I said I had to be an athlete — I had that passion,” Kiptum recalls.
“That period was very hard for me because I trained for four years, but there were no successes and they were disappointed in me. But I kept pushing.”
Eventually, his father came around and occasionally even helped him get to early morning practice on time.
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