Kevin Kiptum, the 24-year-old world marathon record holder, dies on Sunday, February 11, 2024, in an automobile accident outside of Eldoret, Kenya.
According to authorities, Kiptum, the driver, and his 36-year-old Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana perished instantly, while the third passenger only suffered moderate wounds.
Kenyan long-distance runner and world record holder for marathons, Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot (2 December 1999 – 11 February 2024).
In a race that qualified for records, he was the only person in history to complete the marathon in under two hours and one minute. He ran three of the seven fastest marathons in history.
In the three prestigious marathons that he ran between December 2022 and October 2023, Kiptum emerged victorious in two of the top World Marathon Majors (WMM). His times represent three of the six fastest times in history, with a course record of less than two hours and two minutes in each instance. He is the only man to have broken this barrier three times.
At the 2022 Valencia Marathon, Kiptum set a record for the fastest marathon debut ever, finishing in just under two hours and two minutes and only the third man in history to do so.
Four months later, at the 2023 London Marathon (WMM), Kiptum put in the second-fastest marathon in history, clocking in at 2:01:25, 16 seconds shy of the world record.
Six months later, in October 2023, the 23-year-old set a new world record by 34 seconds with a time of two hours and 35 seconds in the Chicago Marathon (WMM), his next race.
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