The shock and sadness does not cease in the world of
athletics
due to the tragic death of Kenyan
Kelvin Kiptum
, owner of the marathon world record, who along with his coach,
Gervais Hakizimana
, died in a car accident that occurred on Sunday on a route in Kenya. while the athlete was driving.
The 24-year-old phenom, married and father of two children, died near the town of Kaptagar, in the Rift Valley, his region of origin and where he was training to
try to break the two-hour mark
in the Rotterdam Marathon in April.
“The two (deceased) are Kiptum and his trainer,” said Peter Mulinge, police commander of Elegeyo Marakwet county, in western Kenya.
“It was Kiptum who was driving towards Eldoret when he lost control and two members of the car died at the scene.
A passenger was injured and was rushed to the hospital,” he added.
According to the police report consulted by AFP, Kiptum “lost control (of the car) and left the road,” rolling “about 60 meters before hitting a large tree.” Kenyan television offered images of the state in which left the vehicle, with the windshield collapsed and the roof completely deformed by the impact.
The athlete's father called on the Kenyan Government to
investigate the circumstances of his son's death
.
“There were some people who arrived a few days ago looking for Kiptum, but they refused to identify themselves.
I asked them to present me with some identification, but
they chose to leave
,” said Samson Cheruiyot.
Kelvin Kiptum and the mark he set in the Chicago Marathon.
Kiptum had established the new world record in the 42.195 kilometer event in October of last year, when he won the
Chicago Marathon
with 2h00m35.
With that impressive mark, he shattered the record that his compatriot and two-time Olympic champion
Eliud Kipchoge
had set in Berlin 2022 with 2h01m09.
He was now in the preparation phase for the
2024 Paris Olympics
, where he would try to break Kipchoge, the former world record holder.
His compatriot was
“deeply sad”
about the death of Kiptum, “an athlete with his whole life ahead of him to achieve excellence,” as he expressed.
In Kenya everything is sadness.
President
William Ruto
described Kiptum as “an extraordinary sportsman” who left a mark on the world.
“Possibly one of the best athletes who broke barriers to achieve a marathon record.
It was our future
,” Ruto described it.
Sebastian Coe
, president of World Athletics, said he was “shocked and saddened to learn of this devastating loss.”
In addition to sending condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and Kenya, he said: “
He was an incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy.
"We will miss him very much."
And
Thomas Bach
, president of the International Olympic Committee, added to the memory: “We were looking forward to welcoming him to the Olympic community at the Paris 2024 Games and seeing what the fastest marathoner was capable of.”
The destruction was total in the car that Kiptum was driving.
Photo EFE
The father's complaint
Coach Hakizimana, originally from Rwanda, was a runner who trained for years in Kenya, where he met Kiptum in the town of Chepkorio.
And in that village of the Kiptum family, several inhabitants came to comfort his widow, Asenath Rotich, and his father, who wants a thorough investigation.
“Kiptum was my only son.
He has left me, his mother and his children.
“I am deeply saddened,” Cheruiyot said.
Excitedly, he pointed out that his son assured him the last time they spoke that he was feeling well and that he was prepared to break the marathon record again, under two hours.
“He told me that someone will come and help us build a house.
“She said that her body is now in shape and that she can now run to achieve one hour and 59 seconds,” she revealed still in the present tense.
“I received the news of my son's death while watching the news.
I went to the accident site, but the police had taken the body to Eldoret,” Cheruiyot recalled.
The governor of the Kenyan county of Uasin Gishu, where the incident occurred, Jonathan Bii, joined the petition of the athlete's father.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Kiptum and ask the Police to expedite investigations so that we can find out what caused the accident,” he said.
The athlete's body has been transferred from the Race Course Hospital morgue, where dozens of athletes and acquaintances have come to say goodbye to their friend, to the Eldoret Hospital morgue.
Kenyan Faith Kipyegon was moved at Kiptum's wake.Photo Reuters
More repercussions
Multiple athletes with world and Olympic titles, and world record holders, joined the international consternation over Kiptum's death.
David Rudisha, two-time Kenyan Olympic 800m champion, called Kiptum's death
“a huge loss”
and Athletics Kenya sent its condolences “to the entire athletics community at this difficult time.”
Kenyan
Faith Kipyegon
, world record holder in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters, wrote on Instagram: “All members of the sports community will miss you.
Rest in peace".
Ugandan
Joshua Cheptegei
, world record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000, said: “I am heartbroken to hear the sad news of the death of Kelvin Kiptum and that of his coach Gervais Hakizimana.
My condolences to their families, their friends and all athletics fans around the world.”
Two other
athletics
stars expressed themselves with equal regret.
The Dutch
Sifan Hassan
, winner of the Chicago and London marathons in 2023, wrote: “I am deeply saddened and saddened by the news of the death yesterday of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach.
My thoughts are with his family, friends and fans.”
And the British
Mo Farah
, multiple world and Olympic champion of 5,000 and 10,000, posted: “Kelvin was an incredibly talented athlete and had already achieved many things.
He had a really particular talent and I am convinced that he would have had an incredible career
.”
With information from AFP and EFE