Ugandan Olympic steeplechaser found murdered in Kenya

Ugandan three-time Olympian Benjamin Kiplagat, 34, is believed to have been murdered early Sunday morning, the BBC reported. Kiplagat, who specialized in the 3,000m steeplechase, was living in the Marakwet District of Kenya; his body was discovered in his vehicle just outside of the city of Eldoret,  the fifth largest city in Kenya and known as a top training centre for athletes.

World Athletics is shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Benjamin Kiplagat. We send our deepest condolences to his friends, family, teammates and fellow athletes. Our thoughts are with them all at this difficult time. https://t.co/x74j5xRvex pic.twitter.com/XvW8k5Gwss

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 31, 2023

Kiplagat had a long history of excelling on the international stage, beginning as a 10,000m runner, dropping down to the 1,500 and 5,000 on the advice of his coach and eventually focusing on the 3,000m steeplechase.

He broke onto the international scene in 2006 when he finished sixth in the 3,000m steeple at the World Junior Championships in Beijing. He won silver at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Poland, and narrowly missed the podium at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Kiplagat was 10th at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea, and made the semi-finals in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Kiplagat did not advance beyond the heats at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Kenyan police commandant Stephen Okal said that officers received a message about a traffic accident and arrived at the scene around 5.00 am, as reported by NTV Kenya. Police found Kiplagat lying in the driver’s seat—the athlete had been stabbed in the chest and neck. Police believe the assailants used a motorcycle to block his path, and his vehicle had hit the motorcycle before the attack.

“We are still investigating the incident to ascertain what really happened, but what we can confirm is that the man found dead is an international athlete called Benjamin Kiplagat,” said Okal.

*Unfortunate developing story*

Uganda's former 3000m steeplechase athlete Benjamin Kiplagat has died in Eldoret. Reports within athletics circles indicate he was found murdered in his car. He lived in Kimumu.

He represented Uganda in 3 Olympic games & 6 world championships. pic.twitter.com/wQCTlUE9k4

— Katami Michelle (@MichKatami) December 31, 2023

Kiplagat had been training in Eldoret before heading to Uganada to compete. 

Kiplagat’s death will be mourned by the international athletics community, while investigations continue to uncover the circumstances around his death.