In a heartbreaking turn of events, the athletics world was shaken by the sudden loss of Kelvin Kiptum, a 24-year-old marathon world record holder, and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, in a car crash on the road between Eldoret and Kaptagat in western Kenya. The sole survivor of the accident, Sharon Chepkirui Kosgei, has since shared her account of the fateful night. Kosgei, 24, revealed that Kiptum was driving the vehicle when it swerved off the road and hit a tree, resulting in their tragic deaths.
Kosgei, who was also traveling with the group, sustained serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment before being discharged. The circumstances surrounding Kiptum’s death have been further complicated by the revelation that four unidentified individuals visited his home in the days before the crash, seeking him out but refusing to identify themselves.
Kiptum’s father, Samson Cheruiyot, has called for a thorough investigation into the events leading up to his son’s death. Kiptum, a rising star in the marathon running scene, had recently broken Eliud Kipchoge’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon, with a time of 2:03:55. He was set to compete in the Rotterdam Marathon in April, aiming to run the first official sub-two-hour marathon in history.
Kosgei’s account of the crash has been met with an outpouring of grief and condolences from the athletics community, including Eliud Kipchoge, who paid tribute to Kiptum on social media. Kiptum’s wife, Asenath Rotich, had planned to travel with him to Rotterdam for the record-breaking attempt.
The loss of Kiptum has left a void in the athletics world, not only for his incredible talent but also for the potential he held to inspire and uplift the next generation of runners. His legacy will continue to be celebrated and remembered as a testament to the power of human resilience and determination.