News of Kelvin Kiptum’s death broke on February 12, 2024, sending shivers down the spines of many athletes and shocking the world at large. According to reports, he and his coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana, perished in a tragic accident on Elgeyo Marakwet-Ravine road when Kiptum reportedly lost control of his car and crashed into a tree on Sunday, February 11. What’s most heartbreaking about Kiptum’s death is that whatever potential he had left unrealized would never be brought to the light of the day
Born on December 2, 1999, Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot was a Kenyan long-distance runner and current world record holder for marathons. Six years prior to his death, Kiptum couldn’t afford shoes for his first major competitive race. Before 2022, he had never even completed the full distance and he went on to set the world record of 2:00.35, the first man to run the marathon in under 2 hours, 1 minute in an official race As a result, he was regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners in history.
Growing up in the high-altitude (~2600 m) Elgeyo-Marakwet County in Kenya’s Rift Valley, Kiptum lived in Chepsamo hamlet, Chepkorio. Kiptum’s ascent from modest beginnings to become a marathon phenomenon was nothing short of extraordinary, especially considering how much of an introvert he was.
As a young boy, he herded his family’s cattle and began following other barefoot runners along the forest trails. – which was perhaps how he got his quiet demeanor, strength, tenacity, and agility which he showed as a runner during races before his death. His interest in running came from watching his cousin, a runner who often worked as a pacemaker for Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie. His father, however, was not so thrilled with this choice of career.
“He wanted me to study to pursue my diploma to be an electrician but I was saying that I needed to be an athlete – I had that passion,” Kiptum told BBC in 2023.
“That period was very hard for me because I trained for four years, yet there were no successes and they were disappointed in me. But I kept on pushing.”
Eventually, his father came around, even occasionally helping him get to early morning training on time.
After Kiptum’s record-breaking performance, his father effusively praised him as an “obedient son who has stayed true to his upbringing”.
Kiptum started training around 2013 when he was 13 years old and participated in his first half marathon, the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon in his native Kenya, finishing 10th; he placed 12th the following year. In 2018, the teenager took his first victory, winning this race with a time of 62:01. He was self-coached at the time. Kiptum then debuted on the international stage at the Lisbon Half Marathon, Portugal, in March 2019, finishing fifth with a new personal best of 59:54. He participated also in six other races that year touring north and west Europe and winning the tough Kass Half Marathon back home in November
It was in 2020, that he started preparing for the Spanish Valencia Half Marathon. In December of that year, the then-21-year-old set a significant personal best in that Marathon at 58 minutes:42 seconds
The softly-spoken, hard-working, and fearless runner appeared to shy away from his new-found fame after he had taken the world record from compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Chicago in October 2023. Kiptum etched his name in history as a Kenyan athlete whose speed and endurance left a lasting impact on the sport. In April 2023, Kiptum solidified his status as one of the greatest marathon runners of his generation with an outstanding performance at the London Marathon. The race witnessed a breathtaking display of his athletic prowess as he crossed the finish line in a mere 2 hours, 1 minute, and 25 seconds—the third-fastest time ever recorded in the London marathon history.
However, it was at the Chicago Marathon in 2023 that Kiptum made his presence known the most. In a jaw-dropping feat, he shattered the world record with an astonishing winning time of 2 hours, 35 seconds, taking over half a minute off the previous record. The running world stood in awe as Kiptum showcased unparalleled speed, determination, and endurance.
What became his signature style of running – staying with the leading pack before stepping up the pace at around 30km – was already in evidence.
Despite his extraordinary achievements on the track, Kiptum remained known for his humility and dedication to his craft. He became an inspiration not only to aspiring athletes in Kenya but also to marathon enthusiasts worldwide.
Tragically, on the 11th of February 2024, the world lost Kelvin Kiptum in a devastating car crash. The news sent shockwaves through the global running community, as fans and fellow athletes mourned the untimely loss of a true sporting legend. Kiptum’s passing was not only a heartbreaking moment for his family and friends but also for those who had admired his resilience and sportsmanship. He was his parents’ only child leaving them behind alongside, his widow, Asenath Rotich, and two children.
Kelvin Kiptum’s legacy lives on, not only in the record books but in the hearts of those who witnessed his extraordinary talent and spirit. His impact on the sport of marathon running in his short career will forever be remembered, and his untimely departure serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life, even for those who seemed invincible on the track. The running community mourns the loss of an exceptional athlete, a star so quickly dimmed