London Marathon 2023 winner Kelvin Kiptum, 24, and coach killed in automotive crash
World marathon file holder Kelvin Kiptum has been killed in a automotive crash aged simply 24.
His coach additionally perished within the tragic accident, which happened in his homeland on Kenya.
Kiptum gained the London Marathon in 2023 and smashed the course file. It was the second-fastest marathon in historical past, as he crossed the road in simply two hours, one minute and 25 seconds.
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Kenya’s former prime minister Raila Odinga stated on X: “Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon. Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight.
“My deepest condolences to his family members, pals, and your entire athletics fraternity.
“Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: AFP by way of Getty Images)
Kiptum’s coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana, additionally died within the terrible incident which happened on Sunday night alongside the Eldoret-Kaptagat street within the southwestern a part of Kenya.
Kiptum was heading to be one of many all-time greats of street working after be obliterated Eliud Kipchoge’s marathon world file eventually yr’s Chicago Marathon, clocking a time of simply two hours and 35 seconds.
The world file was ratified and put into the historical past books simply 5 days in the past.
In November, he claimed the World Athletics Male World Athlete of the Year award for his achievements.
He was favorite to take gold at this summer season’s Paris Olympics and followers have been eagerly anticipating the battle he was on account of have with Kipchoge, 39.
Kiptum was born in 1999 within the Elgeyo-Marakwet area of Kenya – an space famend for producing nice runners.
He started working in considered one of his village’s working teams aged 13, however needed to borrow trainers to compete in his first main race in 2018 as a result of he was too poor to afford a pair of his personal.
His coaching noticed him run over 250km each single week – and would run mock races the place the second half of his race was sooner than the primary, regardless of the lengthy distance.
