World marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum has died alongside his coach in a road traffic accident on Sunday (11 February).
Kiptum and his Rwandese coach, Gervais Hakizimana, passed away on the spot Sunday night after losing control of his car while driving along the Eldoret-Kaptagat Road a few hours before midnight, police say.
“The accident happened around 11 pm. The car had three occupants; two died on the spot while one was taken to hospital,” Elgeyo Marakwet County Commander Peter Mulinge said.
Adding, “This was a self-involved accident where one Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, was driving his vehicle with two passengers.”
The survivor is receiving treatment at Racecourse Hospital in Eldoret as Hakizimana’s wife, Joan Chelimo, confirmed the death of her husband to Olympics.com.
Kelvin Kiptum’s death comes just less than a week after his marathon world record was ratified by World Athletics.
The 24-year-old star, who won the London Marathon in April before setting the world record in Chicago in October, was one of the most exciting new prospects to emerge in road running in recent years, especially after clocking 2:01:53 to win his debut marathon in Valencia in December 2022.
He had been named in Kenya’s team for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and was to team up with Eliud Kipchoge, considered the greatest marathoner of all time.
Kiptum was also set to participate in the NN Rotterdam Marathon scheduled for the first weekend of April on the 13th and 14th Sunday.
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