Kelvin Kiptum was a record-breaking marathon runner poised to become an Olympic star, having run three of the seven fastest marathons in history and being the first to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute.
- Died: February 11, 2024 (Who else died on February 11?)
- Details of death: Died in Kenya in an auto accident at the age of 24.
- We invite you to share condolences for Kelvin Kiptum in our Guest Book.
Kelvin Kiptum’s legacy
At 24 years old and with just a few full marathons under his belt, Kiptum was already one of the greatest ever long-distance runners to compete. Born in Kenya, he ran trails as a boy and began training in earnest with other runners when he was 13. As a teen, he participated in half marathons, routinely placing in the top 10.
Kiptum did not complete his first marathon until 2022, but he immediately showed himself to be among the best in the world. He won the Valencia Marathon and set a course record of 2 hours 1 minute 53 seconds, and then in April 2023, he set the London course record of 2 hours 1 minute 25 seconds. Later that year in Chicago, he shattered the course record by 34 seconds, becoming the first person to run a record-eligible race in under two hours and one minute. It was only his third elite-level marathon, and he was 23 years old.
Kiptum was the only person in history to break the 2:02:00 marathon barrier twice, ran three of the seven fastest marathons ever, and at the time of his death, was ranked number one in the world. He died in a road crash in Kenya when his vehicle veered into a ditch and struck a tree. His coach, Gervais Hakizimana, was also killed.
Tributes to Kelvin Kiptum
Full obituary: BBC
