Marathon champion Kelvin Kiptum dies in road mishap in Kenya

Current marathon world file holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a road mishap in Eldoret metropolis of Kenya on Sunday, media reviews stated.

The 24-year-old Kenyan athlete, who was driving a Toyota Premio, and his coach died on the scene of the crash, Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge advised CNN.

A 3rd occupant survived with critical accidents, Mulinge advised the American information channel.

“He misplaced management, veered off the road, entered right into a ditch 60 meters away and hit a giant tree,” Mulinge stated.

Kiptum ran three of the seven quickest marathons in historical past.

In October final yr, he set the world file marathon time of two:00:35 in the Chicago Marathon.

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Following his demise, Kenyan President William Ruto paid tribute to him and described him as an ‘extraordinary sportsman’.

“Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of many world’s most interesting sportsmen who broke obstacles to safe a marathon file,” the President posted on X.

“He was solely 24 but, as a hero, triumphed in Valencia, Chicago, London and in different prime competitions. His psychological power and self-discipline had been unmatched. Kiptum was our future,” he stated. “An extraordinary sportsman has left a unprecedented mark in the globe. Our ideas are with the household and the sporting fraternity. Rest In Peace,” the Kenyan President posted on X.

Kenyan Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba posted on X: “Only final October we feted and honoured #KelvinKiptum after he shattered the marathon world file. We had been excitedly trying ahead to his goal of changing into the primary human to do sub 2 hrs, and for his Olympics bow in Paris subsequent summer season. Indeed Kelvin was solely getting began, and was destined to rule the world of elite marathon operating for lengthy. The merciless hand of demise has robbed Kenya and the world a really valuable sporting gem. My deepest condolences to the household of Kelvin and the whole athletics & sporting fraternity. Rest properly champion.”

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe stated: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to study of the devastating lack of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. On behalf of all World Athletics we ship our deepest condolences to their households, associates, teammates and the Kenyan nation.”

“It was solely earlier this week in Chicago, the place the place Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon World Record, that I used to be capable of formally ratify his historic time. An unimaginable athlete leaving an unimaginable legacy, we’ll miss him dearly,” he stated.

Double Olympic gold medalist David Rudisha described the demise of Kelvin Kiptum as ‘large loss’.

“I’m shocked and deeply saddened to study the passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana. My condolences to the households, associates,athletic fraternity and Kenya at giant. This is a big loss,” he posted on X.