Kelvin Kiptum passes away – Latest news: Marathon world record holder dies in accident in Kenya; Farah and Kipchoge pay tribute

“Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Probably one of the world's best sportsmen who broke barriers to achieve the marathon record.

“Although he was only 24 years old, he heroically won victories in Valencia, Chicago, London and other top competitions. His mental strength and discipline were unparalleled. Kiptam is our It was the future.

“An extraordinary sportsman left an extraordinary mark on the world. Our thoughts are with his family and sports enthusiasts. Rest in Peace.”

Sir Mo Farah is the latest track and field star to pay tribute to Kiptum, praising his “special talent”.

Images of the wreckage where Kenyan marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach were killed have been released.

Photos show a car being towed from the scene of a road accident along the Kaptagat-Eldoret highway near the Kenyan Rift Valley town of Eldoret.

Hakizimana, 36, is a former long-distance runner and still holds the Rwandan record for the 3,000m steeplechase. He first met Kiptum while training at Rift Valley, and they worked together intensively before last year's London Marathon.

“Shocked and very saddened to learn of the passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana,” Kenyan two-time Olympic champion and 800m world record holder David Rudisha wrote in a post on X. Stated.

“This is a huge loss.”

“In the summer of 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, in an effort to find meaning in sport in the absence of supporters, the Brussels Diamond League decided to take on the unusual challenge of setting a one-hour world record.

“Thirteen people lined up on the start line at King Baudouin Stadium, but the race was just a one-man time trial for Britain's four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah. was there to support the cause.

“Among the dozen or so faceless people was an unknown Kenyan. At that point in his career, Kelvin Kiptum's international pedigree was almost non-existent. He ran for a while at the Rotterdam Marathon a year ago Although he was in the lead, the fact that the word “Pace” was written on his bib where his name should have been revealed revealed his low status as a minor player in the overall picture.

“Like that day, Kiptum was unable to complete his hour-long run in the Belgian capital, clinging to Farah's heels for the entire 18 minutes, but the pace became too demanding and he quickly retired.” However, she probably had no idea what would happen to him in the future.

Kiptamu is from Kenya's highland region, which has produced most of Kenya's world-famous distance runners, and began his international career on the half marathon circuit in 2019.

He ran the entire distance of 42.195km explosively, recording the fourth fastest time in history at the time (2.01.53) and winning the 2022 Valencia Marathon on his debut.

The race showcased his trademark approach to marathons: running in a group for the first 30km, then picking up the pace and going solo for the rest.

He used the same tactics to win last April's London Marathon with a course record time of 2 hours, 1 minute, 25 seconds, and the Chicago Marathon in October, beating Kipchoge's world record by 34 seconds.

That was supposed to be his last race before his untimely death, but it happened just a week after World Athletics approved his world record.

Despite the late hour, Kenyan politicians and government officials paid tribute to Kiptum.

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on social media .

“Our deepest condolences go out to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics community. Our nation deeply mourns the loss of a true hero.”

According to a police report, Kiptamu was driving a Rwandan coach and a woman in his car near the Rift Valley village where he was born when the accident occurred.

The athlete lost control of the car, veered off the road into a ditch, traveled along the ditch for approximately 60 meters, and collided with a large tree.

Kiptam and Gerveh Hakijimana died at the scene, but the woman, Sharon Chepkrui Kosgei Kayo, 24, survived with serious injuries and was treated at a local hospital.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating deaths of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said in a statement.

“On behalf of World Athletics, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the people of Kenya. An incredible athlete has achieved an incredible feat, and we He will be greatly missed.”

Kenyan marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach were killed in a car accident in the Rift Valley on Sunday, ending the illustrious career of the only man to run the endurance race in less than two hours and one minute.

The 24-year-old set a world record of 2:35 at the Chicago Marathon in October, surpassing compatriot Eliud Kipchoge's 2:01:09 mark in Berlin in 2022.

Kiptamu, who recorded third of the seven fastest times in marathon history, became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in race conditions in Rotterdam in April, and hopes to make his Olympic debut in Paris in July. It was.