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.
