In just three marathons (2h1'53'' in Valencia in 2022; 2h1'25'' in London in April 2023 and 2h0'35'' in Chicago in October 2023), Kelvin Kiptum had made a name for himself, propelled as the heir to the legend Eliud Kipchoge, Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Scheduled to break the legendary 2 hour mark in the marathon.
Expected as a pioneer.
Like the first man to reach 8 m in length (Jesse Owens in 1935), the first under 10'' over 100 m (Jim Hines in 1968) or the first pole vaulter above 6 m (Sergei Bubka in 1985).
The 2 hours, Eliud Kipchoge is chasing.
After a failed attempt in 2017 at Monza, the Kenyan went under the 2-hour mark during an event organized by his sponsor, in Vienna in 2019. But it was an exhibition race.
He was escorted by many hares, accompanied by a car and the record had not been approved.
The myth of the 2 hours remained more alive than ever.
It had been brought up to date by the prodigy Kelvin Kiptum whose expected first face-to-face with Eliud Kipchoge at the close of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was to make the race an event.
On the road to Paris, Kelvin Kiptum completed the Rotterdam marathon (April 14), with a new opportunity to break the insurmountable 2-hour barrier.
The shattered destiny of Kelvin Kiptum, who died this Monday in a road accident in Kenya (his trainer Gervais Hakizimana, was also killed instantly, a woman was seriously injured), leaves the marathon and the world of athletics plunged into infinite sadness.
And the 2 hour wall seems to have regained height and distance.
Ready to resist the repeated assaults of the conquerors of the impossible.
Linked to see a benchmark crumble going from 2:55 (the American Johnny Hayes in 1908), to 2:26 (the Japanese Yasuo Ikenaka in 1935).
Then from 2h14 (the American Leonard Edelen in 1963) to 2h9 (the Australian Derek Clayton in 1967) and 2h4 (Paul Tergat in 2003).
Before the two records of Eliud Kipchoge 2h1'39'', then 2h1'9'' in Berlin in 2018 and 2022. Erased by the emergence of the phenomenon Kelvin Kiptum (2h0'35'' in Chicago in 2023), new man in wind soles, powered by a pair of shoes (Nike) equipped, like the new generation, with a carbon fiber plate placed under the foot and air foam at the heel.
Equipment that should allow him to go further.
Faster…