For track and field athletes around the world, last week was a hard pill to swallow with one of the most iconic names suddenly taking his leave from the mortal world. While other Kenyan runners vowed to give their all to honor their fallen comrade at the Paris Olympics, it looks like Kelvin Kiptum’s impact touched people even beyond his national squad.

Kiptum, the Marathon world record-holder sprinter, met with an untimely demise last week when a horror car crash stole him away from his fans. Understandably, with athletics’ biggest show coming up, many were looking forward to seeing the late athlete in action. However, it seems like his death brought his fans together in an unexpected way instead.

Kelvin Kiptum’s memory brings Kenya together

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Kenyan athletes’ heartwarming step to honor their national sensation has been shed light upon. In a post by former runner Justin Lagat, throngs of runners from the country can be seen congregating together to make sure Kiptum’s memory lives on forever. “Athletes walk 10km in memory of marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum who passed on last week in a road accident in Kenya“, reads Lagat’s post.

The accompanying images show a large crowd gathering to do their part in remembering the Kenyan athlete. Armed with a large banner showcasing Kiptum’s face, the fans walked the lengthy stretch to put themselves through the physical ordeal that Kiptum did again and again on the big stages. The Marathon sprinter’s death took the sporting world by surprise, however, from the looks of it, his feats are in no fear of being forgotten any time soon.

While Kiptum’s legacy will continue to inspire athletes around the world, it’s understandable that track and field sportspersons in Kenya feel the lump in their throats a little more strongly. Losing a relatively young runner who has brought uncharted glory to the country can be extremely difficult, but the country’s athletes are not alone in their time of grief.

The world mourns the tragedy

To underscore what Kiptum exactly meant for Kenya, the country’s apex athletics body has suspended all competitions for the time being. On the other side of the world, American sprinter and 6x World Championships gold medalist Noah Lyles also came forward with an emotional message for the departed soul.

Read more: ‘We Are Deeply Saddened’- Roger Federer-Backed Sneaker Brand Mourns the Tragic Demise Of Kelvin Kiptum

Olympian Betsy Sania penned an emotional message, claiming to be “devastated” by Kelvin’s death, while On Running, a Swiss brand that’s backed by tennis legend Roger Federer also mourned Kiptum’s tragic fate on social media. With so many athletes and fans determined to preserve Kiptum’s accomplishments, his legacy will definitely continue to inspire aspiring track and field athletes for years to come.

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