Kelvin Kiptum died in a car accident. He drove the accident car himself.
Kelvin Kiptum is dead. PDO
Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum died on Sunday at only 24 years old. Kenyan newspaper Nation tells new information about the tragic accident.
Kiptum was driving home from Eldoret, a city popular with endurance athletes, but lost control of his car in the Kaptagati area. The car plunged into a ditch and stopped after hitting a tree 60 meters from the road.
The runner was accompanied by a coach Gervais as Hakizima and one female person. Kiptum was found under the car.
– Kiptum was lying under the car, his seat belt was torn. He was dead when we arrived, the paramedic commented to the newspaper.
Based on the pictures, one side of the car and the roof were completely destroyed.
A motorcyclist who tried to help the victims reached the scene before the paramedics. Coach Hakizimana was still alive when the paramedics arrived, but died at the scene of the accident.
The woman survived the accident and was hospitalized. There is no information on his condition.
A big star
Kelvin Kiptum’s car was destroyed in an accident. EPA/AOP
Windshield and roof went together. EPA/AOP
Kiptum’s death has shocked Kenya and athletics circles. President of Kenya William Ruto published a touching statement on the social media service X.
– Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world’s finest athletes who broke boundaries and set a marathon record. His mental strength and discipline were second to none. He was our future, the president wrote.
– I’m thinking about the family and the sports community. Rest in peace, he continued.
Also the president of the World Athletics Federation Sebastian Coe conveyed his condolences. Coe previously ratified Kiptum’s ME.
– An incredible athlete left an incredible legacy. We miss him so much, Coe wrote in X.
Last year, Kiptum ran a marathon time of 2:00.35. The Kenyan was expected to break the magical two-hour mark in the future.
The talent already made his debut at the ME in Valencia (2:01.53) in December 2022, won the London Marathon 2023 (2:01.25) and broke the distance’s ME result in Chicago. All eyes were on Kiptum at the upcoming Paris Olympics as well.