On Sunday (February 11), the police reported that the world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gevais Hakizimana died in a car accident in western Kenya, with a third passenger sustaining injuries.

A 24-year-old individual was heading from Kaptagat to Eldoret in western Kenya on Saturday (February 10) around 11 PM (2000 GMT) when the car overturned.

An accident occurred around 11:00 PM (2000 GMT). Three people were in the car; two died on the spot, while one was taken to the hospital. Peter Mulinge, the Police Commander in Elgeyo Marakwet County, western Kenya, stated, “These two are athletes and their coach.”

It was this athlete who was heading towards Eldoret, lost control of the vehicle, resulting in the death of both on the spot. A female passenger sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital.

Sebastian Coe, the President of World Athletics, said that he is “shocked and saddened by the tragic loss.”

Someone said in a statement, on behalf of the entire world of athletics, we express our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, teammates, and to the nation of Kenya.

“An incredible athlete is leaving an incredible legacy; we will remember him/her fondly.”

“New Delhi Half Marathon: 35,000 people run for zero hunger in the Indian capital.”

Kipchoge set a world record of 2:00:35 in the Chicago Marathon in October, beating the previous record held by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge by 34 seconds.

Kipchoge’s run secured the men’s world record on the streets of Chicago for the third time, but it’s the first time since Morocco’s Khalid Khannouchi in 1999.

At that time, Kiptum was only 23 years old and was competing in his third marathon.

World Athletics stated that Kiptum hasn’t competed since then but was set to participate in the Rotterdam Marathon in April, aiming to become the first person to take a break for two hours on a record-eligible marathon course.

Kiptum secured victories in his debut at Valencia in 2022 and then won the London Marathon in April of the previous year.

Hakizimana, who is from Rwanda, was a runner who underwent training in Kenya for several years, where he met young athletes in the village of Chepkorio in Kiptam.

Ten years ago, a determined teenager, Kiptam, grazed goats and sheep, and during training, began following Hakizimana and other runners.

Until 2019, Kiptam ran two half-marathons in two weeks, clocking 60:48 in Copenhagen and 59:53 in Belfort, France. He began training with Hakizimana, who had paused in Kenya when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.