In a car accident in February, Kiptum, the world record holder who appeared ready to challenge Kipchoge’s supremacy over 26.2 kilometers, passed away at the age of 24.
Social media users started speculating that Kipchoge was a part of a plot to assassinate Kiptum, who had set a new world record in Chicago last October of two hours, 35 seconds.
The 39-year-old told Sport Africa, “I was shocked that people [on] social media platforms are saying ‘Eliud is involved in the death of this boy.'”
“I never heard worse news in my life than that.
I was told a lot of horrible things, like they were going to burn my house, my family, my investments in town, and the training camp.
Though it did not occur, it is the nature of the world.
When Kipchoge first noticed the mistreatment and unfounded rumors, he went to make sure his family was secure.