Kelvin Kiptum: Marathon World Document Holder Kelvin Kiptum and Coach Die in Automotive Crash | [Publication Name] | Extra sports activities Information

Kelvin Kiptum, the world document holder in marathon and a favourite for the Paris Olympics, tragically died in a automotive accident in western Kenya, based on police. The 24-year-old was driving from Kaptagat to Eldoret round 11 pm (2000 GMT) on Sunday when the automobile overturned, ensuing within the premature deaths of each Kiptum and his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
“The automotive had three occupants, two died on the spot, whereas one was taken to hospital.The 2 are Kiptum and his coach,” stated Peter Mulinge, police commander for Elgeyo Marakwet County in western Kenya the place the accident occurred.
“It’s Kiptum who was driving heading to Eldoret and the automobile misplaced management and rolled, killing the 2 on the spot. A feminine passenger sustained accidents and has been rushed to hospital,” he instructed reporters.

Kiptum burst onto the marathon scene with a exceptional efficiency, setting a brand new world document of two:00:35 in Chicago in October. This spectacular feat noticed him shave off 34 seconds from the earlier document held by fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge. At simply 23 years previous and taking part in solely his third marathon, Kiptum’s achievement was actually exceptional.
Notably, Kiptum emerged victorious in his two earlier marathon makes an attempt, first debuting in Valencia in 2022 after which triumphing in London the next yr.
With bold targets forward, Kiptum had introduced his intention to make historical past by changing into the primary particular person to formally full a marathon in underneath two hours, with plans to aim this feat in Rotterdam on April 14.

Given his distinctive performances and aspirations, Kiptum was broadly thought to be the highest contender for achievement on the Paris 2024 Summer time Olympics.
World Athletics remembered Kiptum as “one of the vital thrilling new prospects to emerge in street working lately”.
“We’re shocked and deeply saddened to be taught of the devastating lack of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe stated in an announcement.
“On behalf of all World Athletics, we ship our deepest condolences to their households, mates, teammates and the Kenyan nation.”

Simply final week, Coe confirmed that he had traveled to Chicago particularly to formally approve Kiptum’s historic time.
“An unbelievable athlete leaving an unbelievable legacy, we are going to miss him dearly.”
Kenyan two-time Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha stated he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the information.
“This can be a enormous loss,” he posted on social media platform X, previously Twitter.
Athletics Kenya prolonged condolences to “the complete athletics neighborhood throughout this tough time” whereas Kiptum’s agent, Marc Corstjens, additionally confirmed the “unhappy information”.

Kiptum hailed from Chepkorio, a village nestled within the Rift Valley, often called the epicenter of Kenyan distance working, and tragically, it was there that he met his premature demise.
A decade in the past, barely a young person, he spent his days herding goats and sheep earlier than gravitating in direction of following runners like Hakizimana, who hailed from Rwanda, as they skilled within the famend high-altitude area.
In 2019, Kiptum made waves by finishing two half-marathons in fast succession, clocking 60:48 in Copenhagen and a formidable 59:53 in Belfort, France. His partnership with Hakizimana started round this time, with the coach remaining in Kenya even because the Covid-19 pandemic took maintain.
Kiptum’s passing provides to a sequence of tragedies which have stricken Kenya’s promising younger athletes.
In 2011, the nation mourned the lack of marathon legend Samuel Wanjiru, who tragically handed away on the identical age, having beforehand clinched the Olympic title in 2008 on the Beijing Olympics. A pathologist attributed Wanjiru’s demise to a blow to the pinnacle with a blunt object.
Extra just lately, in 2021, long-distance working sensation Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to dying at simply 25 years previous in her house in Iten, close to Eldoret. Her husband Ibrahim Rotich confronted trial for her homicide beginning in November of that yr. Regardless of denying the costs, he was granted bail shortly earlier than the trial commenced.
(With AFP inputs)