The world record holder for the fastest marathon time unfortunately passed away on Sunday. Kelvin Kiptum, a Kenyan long-distance runner, as well as his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, were driving in a vehicle when Kiptum lost control of the car and went off the road, hitting a tree. Both died upon impact, and a third passenger was seriously injured. 

Kiptum ran his record-breaking marathon in October, setting a time of 2:00:35. This time was only stated as the official record by World Athletics very recently. Kiptum was considered to be one of the people who would most likely be the first to run a marathon in under two hours. 

Many people are now grieving his untimely passing. He was “…an incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly,” says World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. Kiptum is remembered as a fantastic athlete, a friend to many, and a true legend. 

Cites

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/12/sport/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dies-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/11/marathon-world-record-holder-kelvin-kiptum-dies