Kenya mourns the death of a 24-year-old
Marathon world record holder Kiptum dies in a traffic accident
February 12, 2024, 12:46 a.m
What a tragedy: Kelvin Kiptum is dead. The Kenyan marathon star was only 24 years old. He dies in a traffic accident. His trainer was also killed in the accident. Kiptum shattered the world record last October.
Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum died in a traffic accident in his native Kenya. The local police confirmed this to the French news agency AFP. The long-distance runner was only 24 years old. His trainer was also killed in the accident. “The accident occurred at around 11 p.m. There were three passengers in the car, two died on the spot. The two are Kiptum and his trainer,” said Peter Mulinge, police commander of Elgeyo Marakwet in western Kenya. The third occupant was taken to the hospital.
According to Kenyan runner Milcah Chemos, the accident occurred on a road between the towns of Eldoret and Kaptagat. Located in a plateau, the area is known as a training ground for elite athletes. Chemos added that he was among a group of athletes who went to the hospital in Eldoret when they heard the news of the fatal accident. Kiptum’s family members also came along and identified the body.
Kiptum shattered the world record last October and literally turned the marathon world upside down. The then 23-year-old ran the 42.195 km in Berlin in 2:00:35 hours, 34 seconds faster than the then record holder Eliud Kipchoge a year earlier in Berlin. Back in April, Kiptum had already moved up to second place on the all-time best list in London in 2:01:25 hours.
At the Summer Olympics in Paris this year, Kiptum, who did not compete for Kenya at any major international championships, was supposed to meet against his compatriot Kipchoge. Kiptum was considered a promising candidate to become the first person to break the magical two-hour mark under regular conditions.