Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, died from severe head injuries sustained in a road accident earlier this month, according to an autopsy.
According to local media, Johanssen Odour, the chief government pathologist for Kenya, said the injuries were similar to those sustained in auto accidents. On February 11, late at night, the 24-year-old rising star and his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, perished in an accident close to his home in northwest Kenya.
It was also reported that Hakizimana’s funeral has not yet taken place in Rwanda.
In what is anticipated to be a state celebration, Kiptum will be laid to rest on Friday in his hometown of Chepkorio in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
Kiptum rose to fame last year when he won the Chicago marathon and set a new world record of 2:00:35.
Kiptum established himself as Kipchoge’s primary opponent for the 2024 season after breaking the previous record held by fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge by 34 seconds.
For the Olympics in Paris later this year, Kenya had selected the two for its provisional marathon squad.
At the Rotterdam marathon, Kiptum’s team declared that he would try to run the 42-kilometer course in under two hours, which has never been accomplished in open competition.
