Kiptum, marathon world record holder, dies in road crash
February 11, 2024 – 5:37 PM PST
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach were killed in a traffic accident in the Rift Valley on Sunday, cutting short the promising career of the only man to have run the endurance classic in less than two hours and one minute.
The 24-year-old set the world record at the Chicago Marathon in October with a time of two hours and 35 seconds to surpass the mark of 2:01:09 run by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin in 2022.
Kiptum, who clocked three of the seven fastest marathon times in history, had been hoping to become the first man to run the marathon in under two hours in race conditions at Rotterdam in April as well as make his Olympic debut in Paris in July.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said in a statement.
“On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, team mates and the Kenyan nation.
“An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
According to the Nation newspaper, Kiptum was driving his Rwandan coach and a woman in a car near the Rift Valley village where he was born when the accident occurred.
Kiptum and Gervais Hakizimana died at the scene but the woman, Sharon Kosgey, survived with serious injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
“This was a self-involved accident,” the newspaper quoted the local police commander, Peter Mulinge, as saying.
Despite the late hour, tributes were paid to Kiptum by senior Kenyan politicians and government officials.
“Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon,” former Kenya prime minister Raila Odinga said on social media platform X.
“My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity. Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
EXPLOSIVE ENTRY
Kiptum, a product of the high altitude region of Kenya which has produced most of the country’s world renowned distance runners, started his international career on the half-marathon circuit in 2019.
He made an explosive entry into the full 42.195km distance by running the then fourth fastest time on record (2.01.53) to win the 2022 Valencia Marathon on debut.
That race revealed his trademark approach to marathons, running with the pack for the first 30kms and then upping the pace and racing off alone for the remainder of the race.
He used the same tactics to win last April’s London Marathon in a course record of 2:01:25 and again in Chicago in October to take 34 seconds off Kipchoge’s world mark.
That was to be his final race before his untimely death, which came only a week after World Athletics had ratified his world record.
Hakizimana, 36, was a former distance runner who still holds Rwanda’s record for the 3,000 metres steeplechase. He met first Kiptum when he was training in the Rift Valley and worked with him intensively before last year’s London marathon.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn the passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana,” Kenya’s twice Olympic champion and 800m world record holder David Rudisha said in a post on X.
“This is a huge loss.”
Reporting by George Obulutsa, Thomas Mukoya and Humphrey Malalo, additional reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City and Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; writing by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Clare Fallon, Michael Perry and Peter Rutherford
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Who has expressed condolences and paid tribute to Kelvin Kiptum after his passing
Title: Kenya’s Marathon World Record Holder, Kelvin Kiptum, Tragically Loses Life in Road Accident
Introduction:
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kelvin Kiptum, the reigning marathon world record holder, and his coach were killed in a fatal traffic accident in Kenya’s Rift Valley on Sunday. The tragic incident has cut short the promising career of the remarkable athlete, who became the first man to complete the endurance classic in under two hours and one minute. The loss has left the athletics community and the nation of Kenya devastated.
The Record-Breaking Athlete:
Kelvin Kiptum, a 24-year-old Kenyan athlete, made history at the Chicago Marathon in October. He shattered the world record with a remarkable time of two hours and 35 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 2:01:09 set by his compatriot, Eliud Kipchoge, in Berlin in 2022. Kiptum had achieved three out of the seven fastest marathon times in history and had set his sights on achieving the incredible feat of completing a marathon in under two hours in Rotterdam in April. Additionally, he was eagerly anticipating his Olympic debut in Paris in July.
The Shocking News:
World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe, expressed his deep shock and grief upon learning about the tragic loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. The entire athletics community, as well as the Kenyan nation, mourn the loss of an extraordinary athlete who has left behind an incredible legacy.
The Fatal Accident:
According to reports from the Nation newspaper, Kiptum was driving his Rwandan coach and a woman near his birthplace in the Rift Valley when the accident occurred. Unfortunately, both Kiptum and Hakizimana lost their lives in the accident, while the woman, Sharon Kosgey, survived with serious injuries and is receiving treatment at a local hospital. Local authorities have described the incident as a self-involved accident.
Tributes and Condolences:
Despite the late hour, tributes poured in for Kiptum from senior Kenyan politicians and government officials. Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga expressed his condolences and referred to Kiptum as a remarkable individual and a true hero. The entire nation mourns the loss of this incredible athlete.
Explosive Entry and Recognized Talent:
Kiptum hailed from the high altitude region of Kenya, which has produced numerous internationally-renowned distance runners. He burst onto the international scene in 2019 with his impressive performance in the half-marathon circuit. Making his full marathon debut at the Valencia Marathon in 2022, Kiptum recorded the fourth-fastest time ever recorded (2:01:53). This race established his signature style of running with the pack for the initial 30 kilometers before surging ahead and racing alone to the finish line.
Kiptum’s Legacy Lives On:
In his short but astounding career, Kiptum replicated this successful strategy. He established a new course record of 2:01:25 in the London Marathon in April and proceeded to break Kipchoge’s world record at the Chicago Marathon in October. Tragically, this record-breaking race turned out to be his final competition before his untimely passing, a week after his world record was officially ratified.
Gervais Hakizimana, Kiptum’s coach, played a significant role in his success. As a former distance runner himself and Rwanda’s record holder for the 3,000 meters steeplechase, Hakizimana collaborated closely with Kiptum in his training leading up to the London marathon.
Final Words:
Kenya has suffered a great loss with the untimely deaths of Kelvin Kiptum and Gervais Hakizimana. Their accident has not only claimed the life of an exceptional athlete but also a young man who had the potential to inspire future generations. As the athletics fraternity and the nation mourns, the legacy of Kelvin Kiptum and his daring spirit will forever be remembered in the annals of marathon history.
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