The world of marathon running has been struck by tragedy following the untimely death of Kenyan marathon sensation Kelvin Kiptum. The 24-year-old, who recently set a world record by completing the Chicago Marathon in an astounding 2:00:35, was killed in a car accident in Kenya. Kiptum was driving from Kaptagat to Eldoret when the vehicle rolled, killing him and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, on the spot. A female passenger was injured but survived the crash.
Kiptum’s rise to fame was meteoric. In addition to his Chicago triumph, he had previously won marathons in Valencia and London. He was regarded as one of the brightest stars in the sport and was expected to dominate in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, with hopes of breaking the two-hour marathon barrier.
The tragic loss of Kiptum has left the athletics community in mourning. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed his deep sorrow, describing Kiptum as “an incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy.” His death echoes other tragic losses in Kenyan athletics, such as the passing of Olympic champion Samuel Wanjiru and long-distance runner Agnes Tirop in recent years【13†source】【14†source】.
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