Kiptum broke the men’s world record after winning the Chicago Marathon in a time of two hours and thirty-five seconds last year. World Athletics, an international track association, validated his record last week.
The 24-year-old took first place in the 2017 London Marathon.
Kenyan athlete Milcah Chemos, who went to the hospital where the victims were transferred, said that his coach was also killed in the incident.
According to her, the collision occurred on a high-altitude stretch of road in western Kenya that serves as a training ground for long-distance runners. The road connects two settlements.
“Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon,” remarked Raila Odinga, the former prime minister of Kenya, on X. He and his coach died in a horrible accident together tonight.
“My sincere sympathies go out to his family, friends, and the whole athletics fraternity.
“Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
In the second-fastest marathon in history, Kiptum broke the course record at the London Marathon last year, winning the men’s division in two hours, one minute, and twenty-five seconds.
