Kelvin Kiptum

The men's marathon world record holder, Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum, has died at the young age of 24, in a road accident on the Eldoret-Kaptagat road in Kenya.

Kelvin Kiptum Biography

Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot, a renowned Kenyan long-distance runner and the Marathon World Record holder (2:00:35), was born on December 2, 1999, in Chepsamo, Chepkorio, Kenya. He grew up looking after his family's cattle and started running barefoot in the forest and in a high-altitude area (~2600 meters) known for producing many renowned Kenyan runners.

Kelvin Kiptum Career and World Record

• Kiptum started training around 2013 when he was 13 years old. 
• Kenyan Long-distance runner started making waves in 2019 at the age of 19, winning the Lion Half Marathon and placing second in the Singelloop Utrecht 10 km race.
• Valencia Marathon was Kelvin Kiptum's first-ever (debut) marathon race held on December 4, 2022. This time shattered the course record and became the third-fastest marathon ever recorded. 
• Kiptum made history at the 2023 Chicago Marathon by setting a new world record of 2:00:35 for the marathon, the only time someone has run the race in under two hours and one minute in an official competition. His achievement of running the marathon under 2:01 was a significant milestone, not just for Kiptum but for the sport.
• In the 2023 Chicago Marathon, Kiptum smashed the world record with a staggering 2:00:35, wearing the Nike Alphafly 3 prototype.

According to World Athletics, Kiptum — one of six athletes named World Athletes of the Year for 2023 — has three of the seven fastest marathon times in history.

World Record Holder's Coach Gervais Hakizimana

Kelvin Kiptum's coach, Gervais Hakizimana, passed away alongside him in the same car accident on February 11, 2024. Hakizimana was a Rwandan former 3000-meter record holder. He began working with Kiptum in 2020, although Kiptum had trained alongside other youths under Hakizimana since 2013.

Kelvin Kiptum Death

The men's marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, was killed alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana, in a car accident on the Eldoret-Kaptagat road in Kenya. This accident happened on February 11, 2024, he passed away at the age of 24. The cause of death was a car accident. 

Facts you  need to know about Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum

Here are some interesting facts about  Marathon World Record Holder, Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum:

1. Kelvin Kiptum is the only person in history to run a marathon at 2:01:00 in a record-eligible race.

2. Kiptum holds three of the top six fastest marathons ever run.

3. Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum dies at the age of 24.

4. Kiptum started training around 2013 when he was 13 years old.

5. His total earnings for winning the Chicago Marathon and setting a new world record were $150,000 (Sh22.3 million).

6. He won all three marathons he entered, securing victories in Valencia, London (World Marathon Major), and Chicago.