(WatchDogReport.org) – World record-holder marathonist Kelvin Kiptum was killed with his coach in a car crash on February 11 in Kenya. Local authorities said that the Kenyan superstar was driving when his vehicle veered off the road before hitting a tree. No other vehicle was involved in the crash.
According to numerous reports, most sports analysts thought that Kiptum was going to be the next legend of long-distance running and the main favorite to win gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Over the last few months, sporting magazines such as Marca or the Corriere Dello Sport have been saying that Kiptum was going to be one of the main attractions at the event, as he could become a legend such as Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. The 24-year-old long-distance runner broke the men’s marathon world record in his third appearance in a marathon elite competition in 2023 in Chicago.
Kiptum’s tragic accident reverberated through his country, where long-distance runners have been the greatest sports stars over the last few decades. However, his death isn’t the first time that a Kenyan sportsman has died unexpectedly, as some of the most famous have been killed in numerous types of accidents over the last few years.
Kenyan police said that Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, died right after crashing with the tree at 11 pm local time. The accident took place in the town of Kaptagat in Kenya’s western region, which is located at the heart of a high-altitude area that is known for being the training center of the greatest distance runners in the African nation.
Family members and some of the most famous Kenyan athletes, including Kiptum’s father, gathered at his hospital mortuary, where he and Hakizimana were taken. Former Kenyan women’s steeplechase superstar and world champion Milcah Chemos tried to deliver a speech but broke down in tears. She said she didn’t have a word to express her feelings nor to explain “the loss” of Kiptum.
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