Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has died at the age of 24 following a car crash in his native Kenya.
His coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana, was also killed in the road accident near Kaptagat, an area in the south-west of the country renowned as a training base for distance runners.
“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 posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday. “On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.”
Coe continued: “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,” he concluded.
According to an ESPN report, Kelvin Kiptum and Hakizimana were killed in the crash that happened between the towns of Eldoret and Kaptagat at 11 p.m. local time.
The high-altitude region is a popular training base for long-distance runners. An unidentified woman who was also in the car during the crash was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, Kenyan media reported.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge told CNN that Kiptum was driving the vehicle, a Toyota Premio, at the time of the accident, and both he and Hakizimana died at the scene.
“He lost control, veered off the road, entered into a ditch 60 meters away and hit a big tree,” Mulinge said.
Kelvin Kiptum rose to fame when he became the first man to run the Chicago Marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute. He set the record with a time of 2:00.35 in October 2023. Kiptum also won the London Marathon in April 2023.
A rising star in long-distance running, he was widely considered to be the successor to fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who set the previous marathon record of 2:01:09 at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
Kelvin Kiptum wife
Kelvin Kiptum was married to Asenath Rotich but there isn’t much known about her in the public eye.
According to Kiptum’s uncle, Kiplagat Cheruiyot, all the credit for Kiptum’s achievements should go to his wife, Asenath Rotich, as she has been the driving force behind his success.
During Kiptum’s homecoming party that was held at the Weston Hotel, Cheruiyot showered praises on Kiptum’s wife, explaining that she has brought many blessings to their family.
“To the most important one, I want to thank the family for the support they gave to Kiptum. I want to appreciate Mama Kigen (Kiptum’s wife) …according to my own thinking and analysis, she has brought many blessings to our family.
“Kiptum’s discipline was not good until he married Mama Kigen then things started working out well for them. When she arrived home, Kiptum’s star started to shine up to now. I appreciate her and their two children so much for their support,” Kiptum’s uncle said.
The uncle insisted that Kiptum’s wife was the main reason his career was able to blossom.
Kelvin Kiptum children
Kelvin Kiptum and his wife Asenath were a loving couple who shared a beautiful life together. They were blessed with the joy of parenthood and had two children before Kiptum’s untimely demise.
While their names and personal details remain undisclosed to the public, their parents’ joy and dedication to their upbringing are evident in every aspect of their lives.
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