Kelvin Kiptum: Athletics world mourns as Marathon World Record holder dies in a road accident

Sad news coming from Kenya as it has been reported that World Record holder in the men's marathon event Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gravais Hakizimana have passed on in a road accident.

According to Kenyan renowned journalist Lynne Wachira on X, the accident happened at 23:00 EAT along the Kaptagat - Ravine Road, Elegeyo Marakwet.

The accident occurred on Sunday at 11pm, according to Elgeyo Marakwet police commander Peter Mulinge. Kiptum was driving a Toyota Premio with two passengers on board - Gravais and a lady identified as Sharon Kosgey. The talented runner and his coach died on the spot, while Kosgey was rushed to Racecourse Hospital in Eldoret.

It took just two races for the long-distance runner to run his way into the history books in the 2023 season.

First, Kiptum won the London Marathon with the second-fastest time in history in 2:01:25. Less than six months later, he did the unthinkable by breaking Eliud Kipchoge's World Record at the Chicago Marathon with an incredible 2:00.35, taking 34 seconds off the previous record.

By doing this, the 24-year-old became the first man to break the 2:01 barrier, and his ground-breaking run put him in conversations as the face of the marathon in the coming years.

For his outstanding season, Kiptum was named the World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year (Out of Stadia events).

He was scheduled to compete at this year's NN Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday, April 24 and gun for a new World Record, but now his dreams have been cut short.