Sad news for the world of running and for Kenya in particular. On Monday morning, Kenyans woke up to the news of the death of world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who was killed in a road accident near the town of Eldoret in western Kenya, Sunday night.
Kiptum was accompanied by his Rwandan coach, Garbes Hakizimana, who was also killed, and a third person who is in critical condition in a local hospital.
President William Ruto joined the country in condolences to the athlete’s family, calling Kiptum a star and a great sportsman.
Kiptum was just 24 at the time of his death and his world marathon record, set at last year’s Chicago Marathon, was ratified by international track and field federation World Athletics last week.
The young athlete was destined to become a long-distance running superstar, following in the footsteps of previous marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, and was seen as a serious contender for gold at this year’s Paris Olympics.
The vehicle in which the three people were traveling was the only one involved in Sunday’s accident. Kiptum was driving when the car veered off the road into a ditch before crashing into a tree, authorities said.
His death shook Kenya, where runners are the sport’s biggest stars.
Kenyans are sadly accustomed to tragic stories involving their top athletes, with several having died in road crashes, other accidents and cases of domestic violence.
This sad event reminds us how important road safety is, even for high-level athletes. It is essential that the authorities take measures to improve road infrastructure and educate drivers to be careful on the roads.
Kenya loses an exceptional talent with the disappearance of Kelvin Kiptum. His world record will remain engraved in the annals of the marathon, but his loss will be felt by the entire country and by the international running community. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.