Kelvin Kiptum

1.1. Childhood and upbringing

As a young boy, Kiptum herded his family's cattle. During this time, he began following other barefoot runners along the forest trails, developing an early connection with the sport. His family was described as poor, with his father being a Kalenjin farmer.

1.2. Early athletic development

Kiptum started training seriously around 2013, when he was 13 years old. In that same year, he participated in his first half marathon, the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon in Kenya, finishing in 10th place. The following year, in 2014, he competed again, placing 12th. In 2018, Kiptum achieved his first victory in the same Eldoret Half Marathon, winning the race with a time of 1:02:01. At this point in his career, he was self-coached.

2.1. Half marathon career

In March 2019, Kiptum made his international debut at the Lisbon Half Marathon in Portugal, where he finished fifth with a new personal best time of 59:54. That year, he competed in six other races across Northern Europe and Western Europe. In November 2019, he won the Kass Half Marathon in Kenya.

In 2020, Kiptum began working with Gervais Hakizimana, a Rwandan 3000 metres steeplechase record holder, as his coach. Although their official coaching relationship reportedly started around this time, Kiptum had periodically trained alongside other young athletes with Hakizimana since 2013. By 2020, Kiptum was already preparing for a full marathon debut. In December of that year, at the age of 21, he set a significant personal best in the Valencia Half Marathon in Spain, finishing sixth with a time of 58:42. In 2021, he continued his strong half marathon performances, winning the Lens Half Marathon in France with a time of 59:35 and placing eighth in the Valencia Half Marathon again with 59:02.

2.2. Marathon debut and breakthrough performances

In December 2022, at the age of 23, Kiptum made his highly anticipated debut in the classic 26 mile ^{(42.195 km)} distance at the Valencia Marathon. He achieved an upset victory, running with a negative split strategy, where he ran the second half of the race faster than the first. His second half time of 1:00:15 was the fastest ever recorded in a marathon at that point, including a remarkable 14-minute split from 19 mile ^{(30 km)} to 22 mile ^{(35 km)} and a 28-minute 5-second split between 19 mile ^{(30 km)} and 25 mile ^{(40 km)}.

Kiptum's winning time of 2:01:53 was the fourth-fastest marathon time ever recorded at that point, making him only the third man in history to break the two-hour-and-two-minute barrier. Only his compatriot and then-world record holder Eliud Kipchoge (with 2:01:09 and 2:01:39) and Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele (with 2:01:41) had run faster. His debut time was by far the fastest marathon debut in history, shattering the course record by over a minute. Kiptum also finished more than a minute ahead of the runner-up and defeated the pre-race favorite, 2022 world marathon champion Tamirat Tola.

2.3. World Marathon Majors success

In April 2023, Kiptum competed in his second marathon and first World Marathon Majors event, the 2023 London Marathon. Despite rainy conditions, he set a new course record of 2:01:25. This time was only 16 seconds slower than the then-world record and a remarkable 72 seconds faster than Kipchoge's previous course record of 2:02:37. Kiptum again employed a negative split, running the first half in 1:01:40 and the second half in a faster 59:49. He broke away from the lead group at the 19 mile ^{(30 km)} mark and finished nearly three minutes ahead of Geoffrey Kamworor, who hails from the same village as Kiptum and whose career Kiptum had followed in his youth.

His third marathon and second World Marathon Major was the 2023 Chicago Marathon, held on 8 October 2023, when Kiptum was still 23 years old. In this race, he set a new marathon world record with an astonishing time of 2:00:35. This performance shaved 34 seconds off Kipchoge's previous world record, set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon, and obliterated the Chicago course record by more than three minutes. Kiptum again utilized a negative split strategy, covering the first half in 1:00:48, which was almost a minute faster than his first half in London. He maintained his stamina to run the second half in 59:47, only two seconds slower than his London performance, where he set the quickest second half in a marathon.

As in his previous marathons, Kiptum made his characteristic surge around the 19 mile ^{(30 km)} checkpoint. After the 29th kilometer, he clocked a record-breaking 13:35 from 20 mile ^{(32 km)} to 23 mile ^{(37 km)}, maintaining a swift pace of 2 minutes 43 seconds per kilometer (14 mph ^{(22.09 km/h)}). Overall, Kiptum averaged 2 minutes 51 seconds per kilometer (13 mph ^{(20.995 km/h)}) for the entire distance. He ran at the front after the 9.3 mile ^{(15 km)} checkpoint, without a pacemaker after halfway, and ran alone from the 19 mile ^{(30 km)} mark onward. He finished nearly three and a half minutes ahead of the runner-up, his compatriot Benson Kipruto. His world record was officially ratified by World Athletics on 6 February 2024, just five days before his death.

5.1. Circumstances of death

On 11 February 2024, at approximately 11:00 PM local time, Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, died in a road traffic collision near Kaptagat, Kenya, on the Eldoret-Kaptagat highway. Local police reported that Kiptum, who was driving the vehicle, lost control, veered off the road, entered a ditch, and collided with a tree. Both Kiptum and Hakizimana died at the scene, with Kiptum sustaining severe head injuries.

Following the accident, four men who had reportedly visited Kiptum earlier that day to discuss a contract for running shoes were subsequently detained for questioning by the police concerning his death.

5.2. Reactions and tributes

The news of Kiptum's death elicited a wave of condolences and tributes from prominent figures in the athletics world and governmental leaders.

Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, expressed profound sorrow, stating: "On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation. It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time. An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly."

Former marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge shared his deep sadness, remarking: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the Marathon World record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum. An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness. I offer my deepest condolences to his young family. May God comfort you during this trying time."

Kenyan President William Ruto also offered his condolences, describing Kiptum as "a star. Arguably one of the world's finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record." President Ruto later ordered a house to be built for Kiptum's family, with the construction to be completed within a 40-day mourning period.

Kiptum was buried at his farm in Naiberi following a funeral ceremony held in Chepkorio on 23 February 2024. The funeral was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Sebastian Coe and Kenyan President William Ruto, along with hundreds of mourners from the athletics community and the public.

7.1. Personal bests

7.2. Marathon results

7.3. World Marathon Majors Series timeline