It’s a year to the day since the world marathon record-holder was tragically killed in a road accident in Kenya
This time last year, the athletics world was stunned when news emerged that world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum had lost his life in a car crash at the age of just 24.
Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana were tragically killed after the car they were in veered off the road between the towns of Eldoret and Kaptagat in Kenya.
Kelvin Kiptum
Local county commander Peter Mulinge stated that Kiptum had “lost control of the vehicle”, which hit a tree before landing in a ditch. A third passenger, Sharon Kosgei, was rushed to the hospital and survived the crash.
According to Johansen Oduor, a chief pathologist with the Kenyan government, Kiptum suffered “severe skull fractures” as well as “fractures on the left and right sides of his ribs and lung contusions”.
Seb Coe, president of World Athletics, led the tributes to Kiptum and Hakizimana, saying: “On behalf of all World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, team-mates and the Kenyan nation.
Kelvin Kiptum (Getty)
“It was only earlier this week in Chicago, 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.”
Kiptum’s world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago is still the quickest-ever marathon to this day.
It was just his third race over 26.2 miles after he ran the fastest-ever debut marathon (2:01:53) in Valencia in December 2022 and a London Marathon course record (2:01:25) in April 2023.
Ahead of last season, Kiptum was the heavy favorite to win the Olympic marathon gold medal in Paris and there were even hopes he could break the two-hour barrier at the Rotterdam Marathon.
At last year’s London Marathon, organizers paid homage to Kelvin Kiptum with a 30-second round of applause, as well as showing a video of the Kenyan’s life and performances.
Kelvin Kiptum (LM Events)
Kiptum’s time in the marathon was short and sweet but the legacy he left over 26.2 miles will be felt for generations to come.
His runs of 2:00:35, 2:01:25, and 2:02:53 still rank as first, third, and seventh on the global marathon all-time list, emphasizing Kiptum’s dominance over the distance.
At some point in the future, an athlete will likely challenge Kiptum’s place at the top of the tree. However, right now, the Kenyan is still the unrivaled number one.
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