Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, 24, died in a car accident in Kenya while aiming for the Paris Olympics.
The world marathon leader at just 24 years of age, his time of 2 hours and 35 seconds set last October was ratified last week by the International Athletics Federation.
In the aftermath, his colleagues remain inconsolable.
“It’s a sad morning to learn of this tragic accident. Personally, when I was called, I didn’t believe it until I got here. I saw for myself. I want to say that it’s really sad because we didn’t expect such an accident. I’d like to offer my condolences to the family, the athletic fraternity and the whole country. May God comfort us at this difficult time, because I can say with certainty that we are still in denial,” laments athlete Geoffery Kamworor.
“We all knew Kiptum as the best and he was even in our team for the Olympics, so we are in this world as if we were nothing. I can say I’m sorry for everyone, sorry for his family,” says Milcah Chemos, former 3000 m steeplechase world champion.
The athlete’s Rwandan coach was also killed in the accident.
President William Ruto paid tribute to the memory of the champion.