Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies as tragedy rocks athletics world

Kelvin Kiptum broke the men's marathon world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, the Kenyan who's taken the long-distance running world by storm in recent years, has died, according to multiple overseas reports. He was only 24.

Kiptum and his coach, Rwanda's Gervais Hakizimana, reportedly died in a traffic accident on Monday (AEDT).

After twice clocking two hours and one minute for the marathon, in 2022 and 2023, Kiptum shattered Kenyan icon Eliud Kipchoge's world record by smashing the 2023 Chicago Marathon in 2:00:35. Kipchoge's world record was 2:01.09.

Kiptum's breathtaking rise to marathon superstardom, and Kipchoge's sustained brilliance in his late 30s, had set up a highly anticipated marathon at the Paris Olympics.

posted Sunday February 11th