Mourners have assembled to honor Kelvin Kiptum, the record-breaking marathon champion who tragically lost his life in a car accident on Sunday. The 24-year-old athlete, along with his coach Gervais Hakizimana, 37, met their untimely demise in their homeland of Kenya near Kaptagat, a region famed for nurturing long-distance runners. Locals paid respects at the accident site, and fellow Kenyan running stars, including double Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, mourned after seeing Kiptum’s body at the Racecourse Mortuary in Eldoret.
The incident details emerged on Monday, revealing that Kiptum lost control of his vehicle, crashing into a tree in the Kaptagat area during his return from Eldoret. The crash occurred at 8 pm GMT on Sunday, resulting in extensive damage to Kiptum’s Toyota Premio. Sadly, Kiptum was found dead under the vehicle, while Hakizimana was still alive but succumbed later. A female passenger, Sharon Chepkemoi, survived and was hospitalized. The bodies were taken for autopsy, and the vehicle was towed to a local police station for further investigation.
Kiptum’s recent athletic feats, including breaking the marathon world record in Chicago, had garnered widespread acclaim. World Athletics president Seb Coe expressed profound condolences, emphasizing Kiptum’s remarkable legacy. Kiptum’s potential as a gold medal contender in the upcoming Olympics was noted, with teammate Eliud Kipchoge expressing deep sorrow at the loss. Public figures, including former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and sports minister Ababu Namwamba, mourned the loss of the promising athlete and his coach. London Marathon event director Hugh Brasher hailed Kiptum’s exceptional talent and expressed solidarity with the affected families, hoping for the recovery of the surviving passenger.