Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, dies in an automobile crash.Kenya's 24-year-old Kelvin Kiptum, the current world record holder in the men's marathon, was killed in a car accident.
On Sunday, February 11, 2024, he was killed in a car accident on a route in western Kenya alongside his coach, Gervais Hakizimana of Rwanda.
As a competitor against fellow countryman and world record runner Eliud Kipchoge in 2023, Kiptum achieved notable success. In Chicago last October, Kiptum beat Kipchoge's record by covering the distance of 26.2 miles (42 km) in two hours and 35 seconds.
Kenya's tentative marathon squad for the Olympics in Paris later this year included the two athletes. Kipchoge expressed his sympathies to the victim's family on X, saying that the man who shattered his record was a budding star with "a whole life" ahead of him to accomplish "incredible greatness."
Kenya's President William Ruto also paid tribute, calling Kiptum a remarkable athlete who had made a lasting impact on society. On Sunday, the road accident occurred at around 20:00 GMT.