The world of athletics and sport mourns the marathon world record holder.
Kelvin Kiptum died at just 24 years old, involved in a car accident in which his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, also lost his life.
The Kenyan champion was traveling from Eldoret to Kpatagat, in his country.
According to initial reconstructions, Kiptum himself was driving and no other vehicle was involved.
The news was confirmed by families and local authorities.
The bodies were transported to the morgue in Eldoret, the fifth most populous city in Kenya, and 'homeland' of all cross-country skiers on the African continent.
Steeplechaser Milcah Chemos said she rushed to the hospital together with a group of athletes once she heard the news of the accident.
Kiptum's family members were also with them to identify the body.
Kiptum leaves behind his wife and two children, ages 4 and 7.
It was last October 8th when, in Chicago, Kiptum set a new world record in the marathon with an impressive time of 2h00'35", running the last 10km in 27'52".
A performance that in December also earned him the recognition of athlete of the year 2023 together with Lyles and Duplantis.
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Born in Keiyo District, Kenya, on 2 December 1999, Kiptum had clear goals for 2024 and they were ambitious: breaking the two-hour 42km barrier on the very fast Rotterdam course on 14 April.
Next summer, then, he would have been the great favorite for the Olympic gold in Paris.
A career that would have been even more extraordinary, cut short by the terrible road accident.
"Devastating news as we mourn the loss of an extraordinary individual - Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga wrote on accident. Our nation is saddened by the profound loss of a true hero."
Kiptum was "an extraordinary sportsman who left a mark on the world - added the President of Kenya, William Ruto - Probably one of the best sportsmen in the world who broke barriers to secure a record in the marathon. He was our future".
And then the pain of the president of the world athletics federation, Sebastian Coe: "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana. On behalf of World Athletics I offer my condolences to his family, friends, to teammates and Kenya. Just a week ago I was in Chicago, where Kelvin set his sensational marathon record, to ratify that historic record. An incredible athlete who leaves an equally incredible legacy, he will be missed."
Tonight's tragedy is not the first to shock world athletics.
Samuel Wanjiru, Olympic gold medalist in the 42.195 km in Beijing 2008 and world record holder in the half marathon, died in 2011, at the age of 25, falling from a balcony during a rather heated argument with his wife.
And some now speak of the curse of Eldoret.
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