World marathon record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, dies in a car crash

The men’s marathon world record holder, Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum, 24, has d+ed in a road acc£nt in his home country.

He was kikled alongside his coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana, in a car on a road in western Kenya on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Kiptum made a breakthrough in 2023 as a rival to compatriot Eliud Kipchoge – one of the greatest marathon runners. Kiptum bettered Kipchoge’s record, clocking the 26.2 miles (42km) in two hours and 35 seconds in Chicago last October.

The two athletes had been named in Kenya’s provisional marathon team for the Paris Olympics later this year. Kipchoge said on X that the man who broke his record was a rising star who had “a whole life” ahead of him to achieve “incredible greatness”, offering condolences to his family.

Also paying tribute, Kenya’s President William Ruto described Kiptum as an extraordinary sportsman who had left a mark on the world. The road accent happened at about 20:00 GMT on Sunday.