The Kenyan athlete
Kelvin Kiptum
, world marathon record holder who died on February 11 in a traffic accident,
was buried
this Friday in his native country
Kenya
, after an emotional funeral attended by the nation's president
William Ruto
as figures of the athletics, who dedicated him heartfelt praise.
"In Kelvin we saw the future of athletics in Kenya.
He stood out not only as a great athlete, but above all as a good person. He was ambitious, disciplined and focused
," said Ruto in Chepkorio (west), a town near the athlete's hometown. , in a tent installed to hold the funeral.
The politician also stressed that Kiptum was "
a great man and a world champion
. His death has been a very hard moment" and encouraged the rest of the Kenyan athletes to make Paris 2024 "an Olympics in honor of Kelvin Kiptum."
However, one of the most exciting moments of the ceremony was the intervention of the athlete's widow,
Asenath Cheruto
.
"
I will miss you, you are the love of my life
forever until we meet again, but I promise to gather strength for the sake of our children," said the woman with whom Kiptum had
two children
.
Cheruto even added, distressed, that in recent months she and her husband had been planning the big day "for a
wedding ceremony in April 2024
, although God's plans are greater."
Thousands of people came to say their last goodbye to Kiptum through a long procession.
Photo: REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi.
Likewise,
dozens of athletes who were present at the ceremony paid their last respects
to Kiptum by covering his coffin with flowers and kneeling to receive prayers "against the spirit of accidents."
One of the athletes was Kenyan Olympic champion
Faith Kipyegon
.
Another of the athletes present was
Gabriel Geay
, a marathoner from neighboring Tanzania who came in second place in the 2022 Valencia marathon, only behind Kiptum, and who gave words of condolence to the family on behalf of Tanzanian sport.
The accident that cost Kiptum his life occurred in Kenya,
taking with it the life of the runner as well as his coach Gervais Hakizimana
, who was next to him.
It was an unfortunate event that completely shook the entire African nation as it was one of the greatest exponents of it in the sport, at
24 years of age
.
Kelvin Kiptum rose to world fame on October 8, when
he clocked a time of 2:00:35 in the Chicago Marathon and clearly broke the world record held by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge with 2:01:09
, achieved in Berlin. on September 25, 2022.
The news unleashed a wave of condolences internationally praising the figure of Kiptum, who
was called to mark an era in athletics due to his youth
and for being the main candidate to go under two hours in the mythical distance.
Kiptum was set to go down in athletics history despite his young age.
Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP.
In just a few months
he was emerging as one of the great figures of the Paris 2024 Olympics
, which will be held from July 26 to August 11.
In that sense,
the president of World Athletics
,
Sebastian Coe
, also honored the athlete at the funeral.
"Kelvin, you will be missed. Our pain and sadness will take time to fade, please be assured that your achievements are treasured, indelible and secure in our history and will never be forgotten," Coe said.
The runner's body left the morgue last Thursday in a funeral procession
heading to the city of Eldoret (west) for a public viewing ceremony of the body.
The funeral was initially going to take place in his hometown, Chepsamo, in the eastern town of Elgeyo-Marakwet, but strong gusts of wind last night destroyed the tents prepared for the ceremony and the authorities moved him to Chepkorio, about six kilometers away. away.
As many people as possible said goodbye to Kiptum on the night before the procession.
Photo: SIMON MAINA / AFP.
The hearse carrying the deceased, accompanied by a convoy of family, security and fans vehicles, arrived at the Chepkorio venue decorated with wreaths.
Under a tent surrounded by floral offerings and on a red carpet, those present, from political authorities to sports figures, went to say their last goodbye to the athlete.
His body will be moved to the new house that President Ruto ordered to be built for Kiptum's family
, who wanted to fulfill that dream this year before he died.
Furthermore, he is also going to order the construction of another residence for her widow and promised to get her a job.
Source: EFE