At 24 years old
Marathon world record holder Kiptum dies in a car accident
Kelvin Kiptum from Kenya celebrated his world record victory at the Chicago Marathon. photo
© Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP/dpa
In October 2023, Kelvin Kiptum set a fabulous marathon world record. The Kenyan has now died in a car accident.
Kiptum was behind the wheel of the car that left the road around 11 p.m. local time in Kaptaget in Kenya’s southwestern highlands – a region where many Kenyan long-distance runners train.
Kiptum’s trainer Garvais Hakizimana, who comes from Rwanda, and a companion were also in the vehicle. Hakizimana also died in the accident, and the woman was seriously injured, according to police. There were no other vehicles involved. According to initial investigations, Kiptum lost control of the vehicle, veered off the road and collided with a tree before the car ended up in a ditch 60 meters further away, the Daily Nation newspaper quoted the responsible police representative Peter Mulinge as saying.
First person to run a marathon under 2:01:00 hours
World Athletics Federation President Sebastian Coe said he was “shocked and deeply sad.” “An incredible athlete leaves an incredible legacy, we will miss him very much,” wrote the Brit (67), formerly X, on Twitter.
Kiptum won the Chicago Marathon a good four months ago in a world record time of 2:00:35 hours. He improved Eliud Kipchoge’s previous record by 34 seconds and became the first person to run an official marathon under 2:01:00 hours. Kiptum had only completed his third marathon. According to the world association, he started running at the age of 13.
In Valencia in December 2022, Kiptum achieved an unofficial debut world record of 2:01:53 hours, then he sensationally won the London Marathon in 2:01:25 hours. The miracle runner immediately announced that he wanted to challenge the world record. He achieved this on October 8th in Chicago.