Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder, tragically passed away at the age of 24 in a road accident on the Eldoret-Kaptagat Road, along with his coach Gervais Hakizimana. Kiptum emerged as an exciting prospect in road running, making his marathon debut in December 2022, when he won in Valencia with a time of 2:01:53. This was the fastest debut marathon in history.

Born and raised in Chepsamo village in Chepkorio, 30km from Eldoret in the Rift Valley, Kiptum started running at the age of 13 and had an impressive rise in the sport. He made his international debut in 2019 and continued to excel, particularly in longer distances. At the 2022 Valencia Marathon, Kiptum ran a sensational race, setting a new record.

He was known for his trademark approach to marathon running, consistently making decisive moves in the latter stages of races. Kiptum’s achievements led to his recognition as the 2023 World Athlete of the Year for men’s out-of-stadia events. After a victorious performance at the 2023 London Marathon, Kiptum aimed to break the two-hour barrier at the Rotterdam Marathon.

His untimely passing has deeply saddened the sports world, with World Athletics President Sebastian Coe acknowledging his incredible legacy and conveying condolences to Kiptum’s family, friends, teammates, and the Kenyan nation. As the sports community mourns the loss of this incredible athlete, condolences are extended to Kiptum’s friends and family during this difficult time.