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by Mick the Ram
Athletics, and sport in general is in shock today after learning of the death of the men’s marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum.
The sensational Kenyan runner, who burst on to the scene only 14 months ago, was tragically killed in a road accident in the west of his home country, on Sunday 11 February, along with his coach Gervais Hakizimana.
A spokesperson confirmed that the road accident happened at about 23:00 local time, with the vehicle that the athlete was driving leaving the road and ending up in a ditch. They also added that a female passenger had been injured and “rushed to hospital”.
The 24-year-old, whose rise in the sport had been rapid, took 34 seconds off fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge’s record in October last year, clocking two hours and 35 seconds in Chicago, which was only his third marathon.
Both men had been named in Kenya’s provisional team for the Paris Olympics coming up this summer and his rival was one of many high profile individuals who paid tribute to the brilliant runner.
Condolence messages also came from the nation’s president, sports minister, and former prime minister, as well Sir Mo Farah, Britain’s four-time Olympic champion distance runner.
Car ended in ditch
Police released a statement suggesting that the rising star had “lost control” and “rolled the vehicle”. He seemingly veered off the road and ended up in a ditch and then the car continued to travel through that ditch for around 60 metres, before colliding with a tree.
The police report said Kiptum and his passenger, Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana, had been “killed on the spot.” Mr Hakizimana was 36-years-old and was a former runner himself and had known the remarkable record-holder since he was a young boy herding livestock barefooted.
The police did not release any details of the third passenger, other than to confirm it was a young female who had been taken to hospital for treatment.
Shock in Kenya
Many people, shocked at the news, gathered outside the hospital in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret where his body has been taken. One man said: “I don’t know what to say but God, if we have done wrong forgive us because Kiptum was headed for great heights.”
Astonishing start to marathon career
Kiptum made an instant impact when he broke the record for the fastest debut marathon, and the then fourth fastest time ever recorded, when competing in Valencia in December 2022.
He followed that up by setting a new course record in only his second marathon, when he won the London Marathon in April 2023.
That was the prelude to his greatest moment when in October 2023 he passed Kipchoge’s overall record in Chicago.
Breaking two hours
It was only last week that his team announced that he would attempt to run the marathon in under two hours in Rotterdam in April this year, something that has not been achieved in open competition before.
The father-of-two was a little embarrassed by all the attention his exploits were bringing him, as he remained humble when dealing with his sudden fame. He had only began running in 2018, having to borrow shoes, as he could not afford a pair of his own.
Tributes
Paying tribute to his rival, Kipchoge offered his condolences to the Kiptum family, before saying the man who took his record had “a whole life ahead of him” and could go on to achieve “incredible greatness”.
Also speaking out was the Kenyan President, William Ruto who described Kiptum as an “extraordinary sportsman who had left a mark on the world.” Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba wrote that the news was “devastatingly sickening.” He added: “Kenya has lost a special gem, I am lost for words.”
The country’s opposition leader and former prime minister, Raila Odinga called the runner a “true hero” and said he was mourning “a remarkable individual… and Kenyan athletics icon”.
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics spoke of Kiptum leaving an “incredible legacy” and sent “deepest condolences on behalf of all World Athletics to the families, friends, team mates and the whole Kenyan nation.”
Sir Mo Farah described him as a “special talent” who was going to go on and have an “incredible career”.
Olympic dream
It certainly seems that Kelvin Kiptum was destined for something quite exceptional, having already held one world record, and had two of the other six fastest times ever. He had a three from three record in marathons and was set to become the first man under two hours.
Representing his country at the Paris Olympics and getting to run against his compatriot, Kipchoge was something the outstanding athlete was looking forward to immensely.
“I’ll be focusing on getting a medal; I have an Olympic dream” he said recently, but sadly that can now no longer happen.
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