Kelvin Kiptum, a promising athlete, tragically lost his life alongside his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana in a devastating road accident on Sunday. The vehicle they were travelling in met with a fatal fate, marking the end of their journey together. “He lost control, veered off the road, entered into a ditch 60 meters away, and hit a big tree,” Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge said. Despite the severity of the accident, a female passenger survived but with grave injuries, further underscoring the harshness of the incident.

Just as Kiptum’s athletic prowess was being celebrated with the recent ratification of his world record marathon time of 2:00:35 set in the Chicago Marathon of October 2023, his untimely demise at the young age of 24 casts a pall of gloom over the athletic community. In a poignant tribute to the fallen athlete, Athletics Kenya cancelled all competitions. They acknowledged the profound lacuna felt by the sporting world at the passing of this remarkable talent.

Tribute to Kelvin Kiptum unveiled

Recently Athletics Kenya shared a post on X. It was captioned as “Athletics Kenya cancels trials for all African Games set for 16th and 17th of this month at the Nyayo National Stadium in honour of the late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum.” This decision reflects the deep respect and admiration held for Kiptum, whose remarkable feats on the track captivated audiences worldwide.

It’s worth noting the African Games were scheduled for March 18-22 in Accra, Ghana, coincide with the tragic passing of Kiptum. He was the first person in history to run a marathon in under two hours, one minute. Regrettably, Kiptum’s untimely demise means he will not fulfil his plans to participate in the NN Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands on April 13, where he aimed to further push the boundaries of marathon running by completing the race in under two hours.

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As the sporting fraternity mourns this absolute loss, the selection process for the African Games team will be postponed to honour the memory of Kelvin Kiptum, a true icon of the sport. And the further dates will soon be revealed too. Long live, Kelvin Kiptum. May you continue to run fervently in our hearts.

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