Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has died in a traffic accident, local media in Kenya reported on Sunday night.
Kiptum’s Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana was also killed in the accident.
The Nation reported that the 24-year-old Kenyan star athlete was driving when the accident occurred, with two passengers, including Hakimimana in the car.
The other passenger, a lady identified as Sharon Kosgey, survived with serious injuries.
Kiptum, last October, shattered the men’s world record to win the Chicago Marathon in two hours and 35 seconds .
He crushed the old world record of 2:01:09 set by Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge in winning the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
It was Kiptum’s third victory in as many starts over the 26.2-mile distance. He won on his debut in December 2022 at Valencia and then in the London Marathon in April 2023.
