New details have emerged following the sudden death of 24-year-old world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum in a freak road accident. It has been revealed that the marathoner died alongside his Rwandese Coach Garvis Hakizimana while a third occupant of the vehicle survived with serious injuries.
Police reports state that the deadly road accident happened at around 11 pm on Sunday 11th February 2023 at Kaptagat area along the Elgeyo Marakwet – Ravine road. The two died on the spot.
Kiptum caught the eye of many in 2022 when he made the fastest-ever marathon debut during the Valencia Marathon in Spain. He then followed it up with a surprise London Marathon time of 2:01:25 in April 2023. His meteoric rise surprised many and he was frequently sounded as someone who will finally be able to beat the 2-hour mark in human history – previous record holder Eliud Kipchoge ran 1:59:40 in an Ineos-sponsored marathon event in Switzerland but it has never been recognized as the official marathon record as it did not meet some competition thresholds.
In October 2023, Kelvin Kiptum stole the headlines again after running 34 seconds earlier than the previous record held by Kipchoge. His time of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon was officially ratified by World Athletics in early 2024 as the official world marathon record.
Kelvin Kiptum was preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games before he met his gruesome death. Both he and previous World Marathon Record holder Eliud Kipchoge had been named in the country’s provisional squad for the Paris Olympic Games.
The police said the crash had been caused after the driver of the vehicle ‘lost control and rolled, killing two occupants of the vehicle on the spot and leaving one seriously wounded…’
The injured person (a female) had been rushed to hospital by responders to the scene – a police spokesman said on Monday 12th February 2024.
Kelvin Kiptum’s team had announced that he would attempt to break his previous record by running in under two hours at the Rotterdam Marathon. For someone who only made his marathon debut in 2022 as a 22-year-old, this would have represented an unprecedented rise to superstardom and engraved his name forever in the annals of history.
His first major competition came in 2018 where he competed well despite running in borrowed shoes as he could not afford a pair of his own.
Kelvin Kiptum’s rise and rise has further extended the recent trend among Kenyan marathoners who have begun their careers on the road. In the past, many Kenyan marathoners started their careers with track events before gradually switching to the road or participating in longer-distance events like half-marathons and full marathons.
In an emotional interview with the media last year, Kiptum said that he did not have the money to travel to track sessions and that he chose to go straight to the marathon.
His 36-year-old Rwandese coach, a former runner himself, spent months training and helping Kiptum to conquer the existing World Marathon Record.
Mr Hakizimana says the two began their relationship back in 2018 when Kiptum was a much younger aspiring athlete. He also says he had met him more than 9 years before that when Kelvin Kiptum was a much younger kid.
“I knew him when he was a little boy, herding livestock barefooted. It was in 2009, I was training near his father’s farm, and he’d come kicking at my heels and I would chase him away….. Now, I am grateful to him for his achievement,” recalled Hakizimana in an interview.
Tributes Pour In For Kelvin Kiptum After His Death
There is no doubt that Kenya has been robbed of one of the most promising talents to add to its rich pool of talent.
In his tribute to the fallen record holder, President William Ruto said, “Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record. He was only 24 yet, as a hero, triumphed in Valencia, Chicago, London, and other top competitions. His mental strength and discipline were unmatched. Kiptum was our future. An extraordinary sportsman has left an extraordinary mark on the globe. Our thoughts are with the family and the sporting fraternity. Rest In Peace.”
Vice President Rigathi Gachagua said, “It is deeply disheartening to learn of the untimely passing on of World Marathon Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana in a tragic road accident last night on Kaptagat-Eldoret Road. Young Kiptum- an astounding star- flew the Kenyan flag extremely high, scooping and bringing glory to our Nation, confirming to the world that, indeed, we are the source of champions in Athletics. His World Record of 2 hrs 35 seconds was just ratified a few days ago making this loss even more painful. At only 24 years old, he was set to push himself even higher during the coming Rotterdam Marathon in April, where he was expected to attempt to run under 2 hours. I join other Kenyans in mourning our Marathon Hero. May God grant the family and friends the grace to bear this huge loss.”
Opposition Leader Raila Odinga said, “Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon. Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight. My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity. Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
In a statement on X, the World Athletics said, “World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum died in a road traffic accident on Sunday at the age of 24.”
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe also posted on X saying, “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates, and the Kenyan nation. It was only 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 leaving an incredible legacy, and we will miss him dearly.
There is no doubt that Kelvin Kiptum was a hero for the athletics world and his country at large. He will be missed.
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