By World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya passed away in a terrible car crash on Eldoret-Kapsabet Road.
Kiptum was accompanied by his Burundian coach, Gervais Hakizimana, according to Eldoret police. In the collision, they both died.
Five days ago, in Chicago, Kiptum achieved a new marathon record of 2:00.35, which was confirmed by World Athletics.
The loss of the Kenyan sports hero was hailed as “devastating news” by former presidential contender Raila Odinga.
“Together with his coach, they tragically passed away in an accident tonight,” Odinga said on the X platform.
“My sincere sympathies go out to his family, friends, and the whole athletics fraternity. Our country is in deep mourning over the passing of a real hero.”
At the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, Kiptum took 34 seconds off the world record to become the first athlete to break 2:01 in a marathon eligible for record-setting.
With that run, Kiptum beat his personal best (PB) by 50 seconds, breaking the world record of 2:01:09 set on September 25, 2022, in Berlin by his fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge.
