Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, dead at 24

The marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, has died in a car accident, according to Nation Africa. He was 24 years old.

According to the report, Kiptum was driving with his coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana, on Sunday night in Kaptagat, Kenya, when he lost control of the car and crashed into a tree. 

“This was a self-involved accident where Kiptum was driving his vehicle with two passengers. Kiptum and Hakizimana died on the spot and the third person was rushed to Racecourse Hospital in Eldoret,” said local police.

At the 2023 Chicago Marathon, Kiptum made history by breaking the men’s marathon world record in an astonishing time of 2:00:35, becoming the first man to run under the 2:01 mark. He was training to challenge the two-hour marathon barrier at the 2024 Rotterdam Marathon in April.

Kelvin Kiptum wants to break the two-hour barrier in Rotterdam

“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, teammates and the Kenyan nation. It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time. An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.” 

Kiptum aspired to break the two-hour marathon mark and represent Kenya in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics.