“Love will last forever”
An entire country says goodbye to marathon idol Kiptum
February 23, 2024, 4:08 p.m
A family in mourning, an entire country full of sympathy: marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum is buried in Kenya after his death in an accident. Kiptum’s widow speaks emotional words to her late husband through tears, and high-ranking guests also say goodbye.
Relatives, athletes and politicians, along with hundreds of people, said goodbye to marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum, who died in an accident, with an emotional funeral service. In Chepkorio in the Kenyan highlands, the 24-year-old, who died almost two weeks ago, received a kind of state funeral. Among the mourners were Kenyan President William Ruto and Sebastian Coe, President of the World Athletics Association. After the funeral service, Kiptum will be buried on his family’s property.
Kiptum, who leaves behind a wife and two small children, is a sports idol not only in his homeland. Last October he won the Chicago Marathon, only his third official race over 42.195 kilometers, in a world record time of 2:00:35 hours.
“He would have made history”
“My love for you will last forever until we meet again,” Kiptum’s widow Asenath Rotich said through tears during the five-hour memorial service, which was broadcast live by several Kenyan television channels. “In Kelvin we saw the future of Kenyan sport,” Ruto said. Kiptum was not only a great athlete, but also a good person. Ruto announced that the government would ensure that Kiptum’s widow had a job and an income.
“Kelvin, you will be missed,” Coe said. Kiptum’s sporting achievements would never be forgotten. “Kelvin would have written more chapters in the history of Kenyan and world athletics.” The President of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, Paul Tergat – himself a former long-distance world record holder – also said: “He would have made history.”
There were prayer vigils across Kenya on the eve of the funeral. Hundreds of people also gathered in the capital Nairobi with candles for a silent remembrance, while the conference building was illuminated with a picture of Kiptum.