2024-02-12 17:43:16
Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum died in a car accident on Sunday in his home country of Kenya, World Athletics said.
Along with him, his coach Gervais Hakizimana also died.
Kiptum, 24, was one of the most promising names in athletics and many predicted he would become the first person to run a marathon under two hours. There were expectations that this would happen already this spring for the Rotterdam marathon.
In December 2022, Kiptum won the Valencia Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 53 seconds in his debut run of 42 kilometers. Last October, he set the current world record of 2:00:35 by winning the Chicago Marathon.
According to the police report, Kiptum was driving his car with the coach and a woman near the village where he was born when the accident happened.
The athlete lost control of the vehicle, veered off the road into a ditch, traveling about 60 meters along it before crashing into a large tree.
Kelvin Kiptum and Gervais Hakizimana died on the spot, but the woman, 24-year-old Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei Keiyo, survived but suffered serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
“We are shocked and very saddened by the horrific news of the death of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana. He is an incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy. He will be greatly missed,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.