Kelvin Kiptum, the world record holder for the men’s marathon and the first human to complete the grueling 26.2 mile race in under two hours and one minute, died suddenly and tragically late Sunday night.
The Daily Caller reports that Kiptum was traveling with his coach in Kenya, his home country, when their car lost control and struck a tree, killing them both. Kiptum, who was behind the wheel, was just 24.
According to local police chief Peter Mulinge, the group’s Toyota Premio veered off the road and plunged 60 meters downhill before hitting the tree. A third passenger was critically injured in the accident.
Kiptum set the men’s world record at the 2022 Chicago Marathon in October with a time of 2:00:35, shaving over 30 seconds off the best time of fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time record holder. Incredibly, just one year prior Kiptum had never raced in a marathon.
“I didn’t know I’d be a great marathon runner,” he told a local news outlet after his win that year, saying the long-distance competition came naturally to him.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana,” the London Marathon said in a statement posted on Twitter. “The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with Kelvin’s and Gervais’ family and friends.”
We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with Kelvin’s and Gervais’ family and friends. pic.twitter.com/HO8ONdYsJf
— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) February 11, 2024
Tributes from the running world poured out online as the news spread overnight.
I’m so sad to hear the passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. Kelvin was an amazingly talented athlete and had already achieved so much. He truly had a special talent and I have no doubt he would have gone on to have had an incredible career. I send all my sympathies and condolences to his and Gervais’ family and friends at this tragic time,” wrote Olympian runner Mo Farah.
I’m so sad to hear the passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. Kelvin was an amazingly talented athlete and had already achieved so much. He truly had a special talent and I have no doubt he would have gone on to have had an incredible career. I send all my… pic.twitter.com/bNXJA1FgBL
— Sir Mo Farah (@Mo_Farah) February 12, 2024
“My condolences to both families, friends and all the athletics fans around the globe. Road accident has robbed us of such a great talent. Rest in power mate,” wrote long-distance Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei.
I am so heart broken 💔 and shocked to learn of the saddening news of passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana. My condolences to both families, friends and all the athletics fans around the globe 🌎.
Road accident has robbed us of such a great talent.
Rest in… pic.twitter.com/m83lvjctvI— Joshua Cheptegei 🇺🇬🇺🇬 🥇🥇 (@joshuacheptege1) February 12, 2024
Guinness World Records noted that Kiptum ran three of the seven fastest-recorded marathon times in history and was destined for even higher greatness.
We are saddened to learn of the untimely passing of marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum at the age of 24.
He ran three of the fastest seven recorded times for the marathon distance.https://t.co/iEQ6YyIne5
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) February 12, 2024
“Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record,” wrote Kenya President William Samoei Ruto.
Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record.
He was only 24 yet, as a hero, triumphed in Valencia, Chicago, London and in other top competitions. His mental strength and discipline were unmatched. Kiptum… pic.twitter.com/Ff7nild1CG
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) February 12, 2024
Nahashon Kibon, a retired Kenyan runner who coached Kiptum for a period of time, told the Washington Post that his student was one of the mentally toughest marathoners he had never seen.
“He was only 24 yet, as a hero, triumphed in Valencia, Chicago, London and in other top competitions,” he said. “His mental strength and discipline were unmatched. Kiptum was our future.”
The international sports world lost another major figure earlier this year in Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez, the Cuban judo Olympian who died suddenly at age 32.
