Tributes Pour In For Kenyan World Marathon Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum

Only five days after his world marathon record of 2:00:35, set in Chicago last year, was ratified by World Athletics, the news of the passing of 24-year-old Kenyan athlete Kelvin Kiptum filtered in. Kiptum was driving a Toyota Premio on the Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine road with his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, and a woman, identified as Sharon Kosgey, as passengers, when he lost control, veered off the road, before hitting a tree and landing in a ditch.

"Kiptum and Hakizimana died on the spot and the third person was rushed to Racecourse Hospital in Eldoret," saidPeter Mulinge, the Elgeyo Marakwet Police Commander. Mulinge added that the incident occurred at about 11 p.m. local time on Sunday, February 11.

Kenyan President William Ruto, described Kiptum as “a star,” and “arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record.”

“Kiptum was our future. An extraordinary sportsman has left an extraordinary mark in the globe,” Ruto wrote on X.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the Marathon World record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum. An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness,” said Eliud Kipchoge, Kiptum’s countryman, whose world marathon record he broke in October 2023.

“Devastatingly sickening!! Kenya has lost a special gem. Lost for words,” said Ababu Namwamba, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for sports.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, in a statement, shared his condolences with the families and friends of the victims, and the Kenyan nation. “An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly,” Coe stated.

Guinness World Recordssaid they were “saddened” to learn of Kiptum’s passing: “He ran three of the fastest seven recorded times for the marathon distance.”

Ugandan runner Joshua Cheptegei, who holds the world record for the 5,000m and 10,000m race said on X: “Road accident has robbed us of such a great talent. Rest in power mate.”

U.S. athlete Noah Lyles, the world champion in the 100m and 200m race, reacting to Kiptum’s passing, wrote on X, “OMG THIS IS horrible. My prayers to the family and everyone close to him.”

Two-time Olympic champion, and 800m world record holder, David Rudisha said: “I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn [of] the passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana. My condolences to the families, friends,athletic fraternity and Kenya at large. This is a huge loss.”

Kiptum started running at age 13, following local marathon runners as they went about their craft. He entered the Eldoret Half Marathon soon after, taking the 10th position. In 2018, at age 18, Kiptum won the race.

His full marathon debut was in December 2022 in Valencia, where he won the race in a time of 2:01:53. He then won the London Marathon in April of the following year, setting a course record of 2:01:25. Six months later, Kiptum broke Kipchoge’s world record.

These achievements earned him the 2023 World Athlete of the Year for men’s out-of-stadia events.

Kiptum was poised to become the next best thing in marathon running before his untimely passing. He was working to become the first athlete to break two hours on a record-eligible course at the Rotterdam Marathon scheduled for April 14 this year, and also represent his country in the Paris 2024 Olympics.