Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in road accident at 24

The accident took place on Sunday night in the west of Kenya about 300km north of the capital Nairobi. Kiptum, who was driving, and his coach Garvais Hakizimana were killed instantly. Another passenger identified as Sharon Kosgey survived the crash and was taken to hospital.

Kiptum ran his first marathon in December 2022 in Valencia in 2:01:53. He then won the London Marathon less than a year ago in 2:01:25, the third fastest time ever run for the distance, before setting his world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago six months later, beating Eliud Kipchoge’s existing world record by 24 seconds. He was currently training for the Rotterdam Marathon in April where it was widely believed that he could become the first man to run a sub-two hour marathon in open competition.

AIMS President Paco Borao said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Kelvin Kiptum. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time of tragedy. He was a young man who had already achieved so much but was clearly capable of more in what should have been a long and successful career.”