Today marks exactly one year since men’s marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum tragically passed away in a fatal road accident in Kaptagat, which also claimed the life of his long-time friend and coach, Rwandese national Gervais Hakizimana.
Kiptum would have been 25 years and 69 days old today.
At just 23, Kiptum rewrote marathon history.
On 8 October 2023, he became the first man to officially run a marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute, clocking 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon.
His time shattered Eliud Kipchoge’s previous world record of 2:01:09 by 34 seconds. Kiptum’s dominance in the sport was undeniable.
“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record – I am so happy,” he said. “A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”
Earlier in 2023, he had also set a course record of 2:01:25 at the London Marathon, proving he was a once-in-a-generation talent as confirmed by one of his coaches Nahashon Kibon.
“Kiptum’s strength showed towards the end of the marathon. There was no way anyone could beat him in the final stages of the race. If you wanted to beat him, you’d have to create a significant lead early on, but that would inevitably burn you out,” Kibon said adding that it may take a long time before the country produces a similar athlete.
Kiptum ran only three full marathons, but his pace was so impressive that two of them rank among the four fastest marathons ever run, and the other is the seventh fastest.
He made his debut in Valencia in 2022 clocking 2:01:53- the fastest marathon debut.
He was scheduled to attempt a sub-2-hour marathon in Amsterdam in April 2024, but he lost his life before that.
The athletics world was still celebrating his achievements when tragedy struck. Just six days before his death, on February 6, 2024 his record was officially ratified by World Athletics.
The promise of seeing him battle Kipchoge at the Paris 2024 Olympic Marathon was a dream that many fans had eagerly anticipated.
The Chicago Marathon, where he made history, has lined up several tributes in his honor. Last year, the event began with a moment of silence, allowing participants and spectators to reflect on Kiptum’s remarkable journey. A special exhibit at the pre-race expo also showcased his achievements.
In London, where Kiptum also left his mark, the 2024 edition of the marathon honored him with a video tribute before the start of the men’s race, followed by a round of applause from both runners and spectators.
Kiptum left behind his widow, Asenette Kiptum, and their two young children Kigen, 4 and Cherop, 7.
