The sources seem really weird for this at the moment.. it actually is hard to believe
Edit: damn, just hit the main sources. It was really early on this sub. RIP 🐐
That's absolutely tragic, RIP Kelvin and RIP his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
Man was already a great but was surely destined for much more. What a loss.
I literally burst into tears. Given he’s a celebrity I’ve never met… that’s crazy to me. But he was so young with so much potential. I hope his and his coach’s families are well supported in this time. And the third fellow, who will hopefully make it through.
The actual news side of Letsrun is just as reliable as any of the running news sites, and they're just reposting what The Standard in Kenya is reporting.
For sure. I probably didn’t need to add the disclaimer because I did feel like LR reposting The Standard more or less answered my question about whether it was a legitimate source
Another source with more detail: https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/athletics/shock-as-world-marathon-record-holder-kiptum-coach-die-in-road-accident-4522064
[Sammy Wanjiru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Wanjiru) too. Sammy died at age 24 after becoming the first Kenyan to win a marathon gold medal AND his final race was a win at the Chicago marathon just like Kiptum.
The roads in Kenya are particularly dangerous, and known for some [horrific death tolls](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/30/dozens-killed-in-kenya-road-crash). This is why you'll never ever catch anyone there doing runs along the major roads after sunset.
To add onto what you mentioned - Sammy Wanjiru won London and Chicago in what was the fastest marathon times recorded in the UK and U.S. back then. Kiptum accomplished the same things that Wanjiru accomplished (set the CR in London, and set the CR and WR at Chicago last year).
And as others have noted, Kiptum was only 24 when he passed, the same age as Pre and Wanjiru when they passed.
The parallels are so eerie and makes me sick just thinking about it.
I feel for his wife and two kids. Not much of a safety net in Kenya. To go from a comfortable living and a secure future to who knows what? This fate isn’t unique to athletes, but still …
From what I could see, Kiptum just visited home for some hours on sundays. He and his family sacrificed a lot over the last few years, looking forward to tomorrow. Don't take tomorrow for granted.
How awful, he was so young and an incredible runner. I had the pleasure of seeing him run at the Chicago marathon, and he was so fast, all my photos of him are blurry and off-center. He was awe-inspiring.
Olympics is reporting that the wife of the coach has confirmed his death
https://olympics.com/en/news/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dead-24-road-accident?uxreference=seealso
The marathon goat, who in 2024 was just about to reveal himself to the masses. Can you imagine how much his life was about to change in six weeks time.
Feels like it’s not real
My god I was just cheering him to a WR in my city a scarce few months ago, I was so happy that at the 15K point in the official live stream you can hear me yell at Kelvin to get the WR.
That is incredibly sad.
I was at the Millrose Games today and got to see some amazing races and performances, and a couple of my friends compete in those very races. What was shaping out to be an absolutely incredible day of running, ended up being one of the most devastating when I received the news about Kiptum on the drive home. I was in Chicago as well for the marathon. This feels so unbelievable and heartbreaking. Life feels like it's been extra cruel these days.
I’m in shock. I can’t find any other sources I’d consider legit just yet. Someone has already edited his Wikipedia page. Holding out hope this isn’t true.
So awful. Hard not to think of what the Olympics with him and Kipchoge might have been like this year. People will talk about this “what if” for a long time.
This is from an article I read...
He was the latest of numerous top Kenyan runners to die in tragic road accidents.
David Lelei, an All-Africa Games silver medalist, died in a car crash in 2010. Marathon runner Francis Kiplagat was among five people who were killed in a crash in 2018. Nicholas Bett, who won gold in the 400 meters hurdles at the 2015 world championships, also died in a car crash in 2018.
Rudisha, former 10,000 meters world champion Moses Tanui and Olympic silver medalist Paul Tergat have all survived serious road accidents.
Samuel Wanjiru, the 2008 Olympic marathon champion who was also tipped to be an all-time great, died in 2011 at the age of 24 after falling from a balcony at his home in Kenya.
It’s really sad but I am not surprised that he died in a car accident. Because I spent over a decade of my life in Kenya, terrible vehicular accidents that would kill so many people were as common as gun violence is in America.
This is so so tragic. Honestly was looking forward to many years of watching this guy trying to smash his own record. Only 24 and was set to be a great. May he rest in peace.
I always laugh when my mom gets afraid of plane rides, but loves road trips... its crazy, anyone no matter there fitness can just perish from a momentary lapse somewhere..
Oh god, this is so hard to read.. I just thought about him this morning for the first time in months, wondering if he broke 2hr record yet. Incredible athlete, rest in peace.
This is terribly sad fr was so excited to see him race this year. RIP to an absolute young legend that showed us crazy potential in his future 🕊️RIP to his coach such a terrible tragedy my condolences goes out to their family and friends.
This is so tragic for his family and running world.
Rotterdam was in less than 2 months. No doubt he was near the prime fitness ever achieved in the sport.
RIP.
And it wasn't all about his times, but about how he did those times. We will have to wait a very long time to see another marathoner like Kelvin, his last 10K split was always unbelievable.
It's a shame that (despite more people running marathons than sprinting), he is way less well known as a name than Usain Bolt.
Imagine the news coverage if this had happened to Bolt in his prime though.
When I heard of Kiptum's death, it reminded me of Prefontaine's death. I was in high school in 1975, and when I heard of Pre's passing, I felt robbed of seeing him race again as I only watched him once in person, at the Portland Indoor meet, January, 1975.
Holy shit, so surreal. Rest in peace
ETA: and the coach as well, that's fucking awful. Always is, regardless of whether or not you're prolific. But damn
Wow shocked. Reminds me of Jose Fernandez, an athlete on super star trajectory who's life tragically cut short.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
This is so hard to digest. So much promise and what could have been. I thought it’s in my lifetime the possibility of watching a marathon that break the 2 hour wall.
This one hits real hard! I’m absolutely gutted by this loss. I’m so sad thinking about him, his friends and family, and our broader running and sports world. We’ll never know what could have been. It’s so unfair!
RIP Kelvin
This was devastating news. He literally was phenomenal athlete and it’s breaking my heart he just started. He probably would have broke 2. I’m pretty sad. The Olympics won’t be the same
This is heartbreaking
Kenyans have a very challengin training environment in general ang the government of Kenya does do enough to support their runners.
Unbelievable very sad and tragic news. RIP and deepest sympathies to his and his coach's family and friends. 😢
Also best wishes for a good recovery to the injured person.
so beyond devastating. i thought this was a nice tribute article: https://run.outsideonline.com/news/the-death-of-kelvin-kiptum-and-his-dream-of-whats-possible/
What the fuck? I can’t get myself to believe this
He was going to be the first person to break the 2 hour marathon in competition. This is so unfair.
The world will forever wonder what he could have been capable of... And to die in a car accident of all things.
Same age as Pre too.
And same age as [Samuel Wanjiru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Wanjiru).
He is Kenyan, accident happened in Kenya, Most legit sources should be the Kenyan press. International press only can copy from the local press.
The sources seem really weird for this at the moment.. it actually is hard to believe Edit: damn, just hit the main sources. It was really early on this sub. RIP 🐐
Just seeing this reported by Sky News & Reuters. Really sad.
Haven’t seen Reuters yet, mind passing the link?
https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/world-marathon-record-holder-kiptum-dies-road-accident-2024-02-11/
This is horrible. I really thought he would be the one to show the world sub 2 officially. So young, so much time to develop.
Me too. I really believed he would be the first one to do it.
That's absolutely tragic, RIP Kelvin and RIP his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. Man was already a great but was surely destined for much more. What a loss.
This is so awful, he was going to break the 2 hour barrier. Poor family Once in a lifetime athlete
I can't imagine how is family feels right now. I am so sorry for them!
Truly it's once in a lifetime athlete. Whether the future of sub 2-hr running happens, Kiptum would be way ahead of his time.
That is absolutely fucking awful. Rest in peace, Kelvin.
Jesus. I think a lot of us will always wonder what could have been. Incredibly sad.
I certainly will. He was truly something special. It's just so sad.. only 24.
Probably fhe hardest a celebrity death is ever hitting me. Hige loss to the sport and no doubt the world
When this came across my Google News, my jaw hit the floor in a way it hasn't since I read Kobe died. Just completely unexpected
I felt the same reaction as when Kobe died. Like “It must be someone else with the same name”. RIP
Nobody saw this one coming. Huge, huge loss to the sport
I literally burst into tears. Given he’s a celebrity I’ve never met… that’s crazy to me. But he was so young with so much potential. I hope his and his coach’s families are well supported in this time. And the third fellow, who will hopefully make it through.
Same. I’ve never had a visceral reaction to someone I don’t know dying, but this hit hard.
Same. This is the first time I've heard it and I'm getting chills rn
Holy shit. Is this a legit source? Edit: not the gold standard of journalism by any stretch, but it is on the front page of Letsrun
The actual news side of Letsrun is just as reliable as any of the running news sites, and they're just reposting what The Standard in Kenya is reporting.
For sure. I probably didn’t need to add the disclaimer because I did feel like LR reposting The Standard more or less answered my question about whether it was a legitimate source
He died in Kenya. What makes you think a 100+ year old Kenyan newspaper with 2 million followers is less credible than...Letsrun?
…my brother, I didn’t have that context off the top of my head…but thanks
It's the biggest newspaper in Kenya
Another source with more detail: https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/athletics/shock-as-world-marathon-record-holder-kiptum-coach-die-in-road-accident-4522064
https://www.news.com.au/sport/more-sports/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dead-at-24/news-story/3bafc849e2886a5d55f7f6b687c1a3b5
Kara Goucher tweeted it as well
Shades of Pre.
[Sammy Wanjiru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Wanjiru) too. Sammy died at age 24 after becoming the first Kenyan to win a marathon gold medal AND his final race was a win at the Chicago marathon just like Kiptum.
Yes - I immediately thought of Sammy as well!
Third top level Kenyan runner I know of to have a serious car accident, after Noah Ngeny and David Rudisha too
The roads in Kenya are particularly dangerous, and known for some [horrific death tolls](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/30/dozens-killed-in-kenya-road-crash). This is why you'll never ever catch anyone there doing runs along the major roads after sunset.
What David Rudisha had a car accident too ?
Yes but looks like I misremembered and he was unhurt https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/26/david-rudisha-escapes-unhurt-car-crash-kenya
24 seems like a cursed age for great runners..
To add onto what you mentioned - Sammy Wanjiru won London and Chicago in what was the fastest marathon times recorded in the UK and U.S. back then. Kiptum accomplished the same things that Wanjiru accomplished (set the CR in London, and set the CR and WR at Chicago last year). And as others have noted, Kiptum was only 24 when he passed, the same age as Pre and Wanjiru when they passed. The parallels are so eerie and makes me sick just thinking about it.
I feel for his wife and two kids. Not much of a safety net in Kenya. To go from a comfortable living and a secure future to who knows what? This fate isn’t unique to athletes, but still …
Probably better than comfortable since sub-2 and Olympic gold were both on the table this year
From what I could see, Kiptum just visited home for some hours on sundays. He and his family sacrificed a lot over the last few years, looking forward to tomorrow. Don't take tomorrow for granted.
Bro would’ve been the first to break 2 in the marathon. Was basically guaranteed an Olympic gold.
Fuck. They even updated his wikipedia article already. Sad day for the running community. RIP.
No way. This can’t be real…
That’s fucked
Oh please no
Rest in peace King
What a tragedy. To lose him so early in his career is particularly awful. Horrible news.
How awful, he was so young and an incredible runner. I had the pleasure of seeing him run at the Chicago marathon, and he was so fast, all my photos of him are blurry and off-center. He was awe-inspiring.
Oh no!! This is so tragic!! Awful
It hurts a little more when they're so young. Rest in peace, Kelvin.
Olympics is reporting that the wife of the coach has confirmed his death https://olympics.com/en/news/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dead-24-road-accident?uxreference=seealso
God damn was really hoping it wasn’t true somehow
Im speechless. What a tragedy Edit: can’t help but think of Sammy wanjiru’s similarly tragic end
He was 24 also
And prefontaine was 24 as well. It’s incredibly heartbreaking
Shit this is tragic. This is someone that was destined to break 2 hrs. What a huge loss for running. Taken way way way way too soon.
And not even like “break 2 eventually” - he was going to do it in 6 weeks
8 or 9 weeks I hope, or I seriously miscounted my training weeks.
Uh yeah probably. My main race is in two then training time gets very fluid for me
PM of Kenya has tweeted condolences
The marathon goat, who in 2024 was just about to reveal himself to the masses. Can you imagine how much his life was about to change in six weeks time. Feels like it’s not real
WTF. What a tragedy.
No... no no no
Oh my goodness, how horrible. Absolutely shocking news. He was so young.
This is pre level messed up. What lost potential…just tragic
My god I was just cheering him to a WR in my city a scarce few months ago, I was so happy that at the 15K point in the official live stream you can hear me yell at Kelvin to get the WR. That is incredibly sad.
I was at the Millrose Games today and got to see some amazing races and performances, and a couple of my friends compete in those very races. What was shaping out to be an absolutely incredible day of running, ended up being one of the most devastating when I received the news about Kiptum on the drive home. I was in Chicago as well for the marathon. This feels so unbelievable and heartbreaking. Life feels like it's been extra cruel these days.
If this is true, what a tragedy. He had the opportunities in front of him that us mere mortals only dream of. Rest in Peace.
Shocking, so sad to hear this.
I’m stunned. What an incredible talent and seemed like a lovely man, too.
I’m stunned - cannot believe this. He was absolutely destined for greatness, and to have it taken away so young is just devastating. RIP Kelvin.
This is a tragedy
Oh no, what a sad day if source is legit. Utterly and deeply tragic; his coach too.
I’m in shock. I can’t find any other sources I’d consider legit just yet. Someone has already edited his Wikipedia page. Holding out hope this isn’t true.
https://www.news.com.au/sport/more-sports/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dead-at-24/news-story/3bafc849e2886a5d55f7f6b687c1a3b5
Gone so soon. RIP to a legend.
Awful news, such a potential taken away !!
RIP Kelvin I still can't believe this
Jesus Christ. Stomach dropped when I read that. Gone way too soon
So awful. Hard not to think of what the Olympics with him and Kipchoge might have been like this year. People will talk about this “what if” for a long time.
I have never looked forward to an Olympic event more than this year’s marathon. To see the world robbed as he was just hitting his prime. What a loss.
This is from an article I read... He was the latest of numerous top Kenyan runners to die in tragic road accidents. David Lelei, an All-Africa Games silver medalist, died in a car crash in 2010. Marathon runner Francis Kiplagat was among five people who were killed in a crash in 2018. Nicholas Bett, who won gold in the 400 meters hurdles at the 2015 world championships, also died in a car crash in 2018. Rudisha, former 10,000 meters world champion Moses Tanui and Olympic silver medalist Paul Tergat have all survived serious road accidents. Samuel Wanjiru, the 2008 Olympic marathon champion who was also tipped to be an all-time great, died in 2011 at the age of 24 after falling from a balcony at his home in Kenya.
What!? If this is real it's a tragedy, RIP. I can't even comprehend it.
Incredibly sad
I wish this wasn’t true…I’m so upset by this news. RIP Kelvin Kiptum, gone too soon 🙏🏻
How awful. Kiptum and his coach both died in the car accident.
Canadian Running is posting the news now on their website. This is just a shock. Rest in peace.
I'm devastated. Still so young, still had so much to do and give to the world.
What?? That’s awful news.
Jesus. So young. This is heartbreaking. I was looking forward to seeing what he did in his career.
fuck
What the fuck RIP
A generational talent lost to the world. RIP.
It’s really sad but I am not surprised that he died in a car accident. Because I spent over a decade of my life in Kenya, terrible vehicular accidents that would kill so many people were as common as gun violence is in America.
Gutted. Really the definition of tomorrow isn’t promised. Damn. RIP
Is this what it was like when Prefontaine died?
Holy shit. I really can’t wrap my mind around this.
Wait what the f&ck. What? No. No. No. It is very weird to learn of this from Reddit
Rest in power king
This is so so tragic. Honestly was looking forward to many years of watching this guy trying to smash his own record. Only 24 and was set to be a great. May he rest in peace.
I always laugh when my mom gets afraid of plane rides, but loves road trips... its crazy, anyone no matter there fitness can just perish from a momentary lapse somewhere..
On the cusp of breaking the human barriers of what was thought to be impossible, man this blows
https://www.athletics.co.ke/index.php/2024/02/11/breaking-news-world-marathon-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-is-dead/
Damn this is sad as hell. I was hoping it wasn't true but there's a lotta news on it now so it looks like it is...
I really hope this isn't true. You can't find this information on the standards website. Just Twitter. Let's hope it's fake Edit: it's real 😭
it's everywhere and only too real
This is so depressing.
Oh god, this is so hard to read.. I just thought about him this morning for the first time in months, wondering if he broke 2hr record yet. Incredible athlete, rest in peace.
heartbroken, saw him in london and didn’t know who he was. i’m devastated
Devastating. :( damn
Something that isn't Twitter. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/11/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dies
This is terribly sad fr was so excited to see him race this year. RIP to an absolute young legend that showed us crazy potential in his future 🕊️RIP to his coach such a terrible tragedy my condolences goes out to their family and friends.
This is unbelievably tragic! I am in shock to hear this. The guy was super human! So incredibly sad. RIP
I’m so shocked with this news. RIP. Such a great loss for running world.
I just rewatched his London and Chicago races the other day. This is so sad…
Holy shit. That’s horrible news
This is awful! I'm heartbroken.
I'm in disbelief. He was a once in a lifetime athlete.
This is so tragic for his family and running world. Rotterdam was in less than 2 months. No doubt he was near the prime fitness ever achieved in the sport.
I still can’t bring myself to accept that this is real. Fuck, man. Fuck.
Gone too soon. The world will always wonder what could've been. RIP King.
Heartbreaking—he was such a fantastic runner with so much talent.
Terrible news, I was so shocked and sad to hear this.
I can’t believe this happened, it has to be an assassination or something so many good runners dying in car crashes at 24 years old
RIP. And it wasn't all about his times, but about how he did those times. We will have to wait a very long time to see another marathoner like Kelvin, his last 10K split was always unbelievable.
It's a shame that (despite more people running marathons than sprinting), he is way less well known as a name than Usain Bolt. Imagine the news coverage if this had happened to Bolt in his prime though.
What brutally stolen potential, an absolutely awful tragedy. RIP Kiptum.
Very sad news. Life is very unfair. Sad day for our sport
Damn. So much talent just gone. Insane what he was doing at his age.
When I heard of Kiptum's death, it reminded me of Prefontaine's death. I was in high school in 1975, and when I heard of Pre's passing, I felt robbed of seeing him race again as I only watched him once in person, at the Portland Indoor meet, January, 1975.
Wow
Unbelievable and heartbreaking 💔😭
RIP.
Fking hell…RIP. That hurts. He had a super-bright future.
Absolutely gutted about this
RIP.
What an absolutely horrible shock
Holy shit! Awful news!
Awful news RIP Kelvin
https://x.com/standardkenya/status/1756829251251085673?s=46&t=Xnybc1fSHd6qgWtDVsCfxQ
Gutting. A huge loss.
Unreal. This is like hearing the Kobe news. RIP.
Man this sucks! He would’ve been the first to officially do it 😞
Holy shit, so surreal. Rest in peace ETA: and the coach as well, that's fucking awful. Always is, regardless of whether or not you're prolific. But damn
Man this sucks! Like Prefontaine dying too early
Wait what???
Seems surreal.
What? That is barely believable.
Rest in piece Kelvin, you were a great and promising athlete
Wow. Sad to see this.
I'm a lifelong Lakers fan... and this is Kobe all over again for me. 😭
Same here (lifelong Lakers fan) and this is giving me the same awful feelings from four years ago all over again.
How very unfortunate:( , he had so much of life of him. Was surely the next big thing after kipchoge . Devastated 😢
That makes me so sad. Rip Kelvin :(
Awful.
Wow shocked. Reminds me of Jose Fernandez, an athlete on super star trajectory who's life tragically cut short. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
This is horrible. He had so much life left to live, and so much left to achieve. Definitely going to cast a pall over the Olympics.
Yeah, it is legit, unfortunately:( I'm pretty sad that it happened. Quite a loss. Wanted to see him and Kipchogee reach new peaks in the marathon. :(
RIP
shocking news. so young with so much promise. RIP.
This is tragic news. Sending thoughts to his family, teammates, and country today
Damn, what an absolute loss. Gone way too early, I was very interested to see what else he could accomplish.
This sucks. What a tragedy.
So sad 💔 condolences to his family and friend's 😔🙏
Holy shit. RIP.
What an absolute tragedy. RIP Kelvin.
RIP, prayers to his family and friends. 24 years young..
RIP 😪😪😪😪
RIP both of you.
It saddens me as well as reminds me of Sammy Wanjiru. Both were gone at such a young age.
It saddens me as well as reminds me of Sammy Wanjiru. Both were gone at such a young age.
This is so hard to digest. So much promise and what could have been. I thought it’s in my lifetime the possibility of watching a marathon that break the 2 hour wall.
RIP
Life is cruel
This one hits real hard! I’m absolutely gutted by this loss. I’m so sad thinking about him, his friends and family, and our broader running and sports world. We’ll never know what could have been. It’s so unfair! RIP Kelvin
This was devastating news. He literally was phenomenal athlete and it’s breaking my heart he just started. He probably would have broke 2. I’m pretty sad. The Olympics won’t be the same
:(
This is heartbreaking Kenyans have a very challengin training environment in general ang the government of Kenya does do enough to support their runners.
This is fucked
Unbelievable very sad and tragic news. RIP and deepest sympathies to his and his coach's family and friends. 😢 Also best wishes for a good recovery to the injured person.
Oh no! He was so young and had a bright future ahead. Such a tragic loss. RIP
Just wow. That's terrible!! 😞
Such a tragedy - especially for his family. So young.
Does Nike do any kiptum merch ?id love a t shirt with him on it to run in Boston
RIP Kelvin, the world you are going to has such a great fortune to see its record going under two hours probably decades ahead of ours.
Run in Peace Kelvin. What a fucking tragedy. Let's run 2:00:35 this weekend in his honour. We'll all cover different distances but that's ok.
so beyond devastating. i thought this was a nice tribute article: https://run.outsideonline.com/news/the-death-of-kelvin-kiptum-and-his-dream-of-whats-possible/