Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, and his coach Gervais Hakizimana tragically lost their lives in a car crash in western Kenya. Another passenger sustained injuries in the accident.

Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, tragically lost their lives in a road accident in western Kenya on Sunday, as confirmed by former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Police reported that the accident happened while the car was en route to Eldoret, a city in western Kenya.

"At around 11 pm (2000 GMT), the accident occurred. The car, with three occupants, resulted in two fatalities on the spot, while one was rushed to the hospital. The deceased individuals are Kiptum and his coach," stated Peter Mulinge, the police commander for Elgeyo Marakwet County in western Kenya.

The sports world mourned the loss of Kiptum, with both the Boston and London marathons expressing condolences on social media.

Kenya's Minister for Sports, Ababu Namwamba, lamented on X, saying, "Devastatingly sickening!! Kenya has lost a special gem. Lost for words."

"Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world's finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record," stated Kenya's President William Ruto.

"An extraordinary sportsman has left an extraordinary mark on the globe. Our thoughts are with the family and the sporting fraternity. Rest In Peace," he added.

The 24-year-old Kiptum made history by setting the world record at the Chicago Marathon in October, clocking a time of 2:00:35. This achievement surpassed the previous record of 2:01:09 set by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin in 2022.

At the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, Kiptum had anticipated a meeting with Kipchoge. Kiptum was widely regarded as a promising contender to potentially become the first person to break the elusive two-hour mark in the marathon under normal conditions.