The world plunged into sorrow on Sunday night as news broke of the untimely demise of Kelvin Kiptum, the reigning world marathon record holder, and his Rwandese coach, Garvis Hakizimana, in a tragic road accident. According to police reports, the fatal crash occurred around 11 pm in the Kaptagat area along the Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine road, claiming the lives of Kiptum and Hakizimana instantly due to the impact of the accident.
Kelvin Kiptum gained international recognition in the athletics community with his remarkable debut in the Valencia marathon in 2022, where he set the fastest marathon debut. The 24-year-old athlete continued to ascend in 2023, achieving victory in the London Marathon with a course record of 2:01:25 in April.
However, it was in October that Kiptum made headlines by breaking the men’s world record, clocking an astonishing 2:00:35. He became the first person to complete a marathon in under two hours and one minute, surpassing Eliud Kipchoge’s previous record by 34 seconds.
Just last week, Kiptum’s world marathon record was officially ratified by the international track federation World Athletics. He was gearing up to kick off his new season at the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14, with plans to join the Kenyan team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, expressed shock and deep sadness over the loss, extending condolences to the families, friends, teammates, and the entire Kenyan nation. Coe highlighted Kiptum’s extraordinary legacy and remarked on the recent official ratification of his historic marathon world record in Chicago. The president concluded by emphasizing the incredible athlete’s departure and the void left by his absence.
