Kenya’s president is also in mourning
Running scene shocked by the death of world record holder Kiptum
February 12, 2024, 12:25 p.m
His best days were probably still ahead of him, but Kelvin Kiptum dies in a car accident. At just 24 years old. The sports world and politics are mourning the marathon world record holder.
Runner icon Eliud Kipchoge has reacted with dismay to the death of marathon star Kelvin Kiptum. The 39-year-old wrote on his social media channels that he was “deeply saddened by the tragic death” of his successor as marathon world record holder. Compatriot Kiptum was an athlete “who has a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness. I express my deepest condolences to his young family. May God comfort them in this difficult time.”
Kenyan President William Ruto also mourns the loss of the exceptional athlete. “He was only 24 years old, a hero. His mental strength and discipline were unmatched,” wrote Ruto on X. The top athlete was the future. Kiptum has left an extraordinary mark on the globe, said the president about the world record holder, who won the Chicago Marathon a good four months ago in the world record time of 2:00:35 hours. He improved Eliud Kipchoge’s previous record by 34 seconds and became the first person to run an official marathon under 2:01:00 hours. Kiptum broke barriers to secure a marathon record, wrote Ruto.
IOC President Thomas Bach was also hit by the news. “It was with great sadness that I learned of the tragic death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum. We looked forward to welcoming him to the Olympic community at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and seeing what the world’s fastest marathon runner can achieve.” , Bach was quoted as saying in an IOC post at X.
Olympic champion is “shocked”
World Athletics Federation President Sebastian Coe was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news. “An incredible athlete leaves an incredible legacy, we will miss him very much,” said the British Coe in a statement from the world association. “It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the site where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time,” continued Coe. “A legendary athlete who leaves a legendary legacy. We will miss him deeply.”
Kenyan Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba wrote on X: “Kenya has lost a special jewel.” Two-time 800 meter Olympic champion David Rudisha said he was “shocked” by his compatriot’s death.
According to police, 24-year-old Kiptum was behind the wheel of the car that left the road around 11 p.m. local time on Sunday in Kaptaget in Kenya’s southwestern highlands – a region where many Kenyan long-distance runners train. Kiptum also came from the region around Eldoret, which is home to the East African country’s most famous and successful marathon runners. Kiptum’s Rwandan trainer Gervais Hakizimana also died in an accident, the police confirmed. According to Kenyan media reports, there was also a woman in the car who was taken to the clinic with serious injuries.