Thousands of marathon runners in London honored the memory of the late reigning men’s champion Kelvin Kiptum ahead of Sunday’s race.
Kenyan runner Kiptum was 24 when he and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana, 37, died in a road accident in his home country on February 11.
Kiptum ran the second fastest marathon in history in London last year, setting a time of 2:01:25, just 16 seconds above the world record.
Ahead of Sunday’s start, a black and white image of Kiptum crossing the finish line on the Mall was shown on large screens, with Buckingham Palace in the background.
There was applause and cheers from both elite and amateur runners, plus hundreds of spectators along the 26.1-mile course, to remember him.
London Marathon runners paid tribute to the late reigning men’s champion Kelvin Kiptum at the start line following the Kenyan’s tragic death in a car crash in February
An image of Kiptum winning last year’s London Marathon was shown on large screens, prompting cheers and applause
Kiptum set the second fastest marathon time in history during the race in London last year
Kiptum (L) and his coach Gervais Hakizimana (R) were killed in a traffic accident in the Kenyan district of Kaptagat on February 11.
Kiptum made history last October when he clocked 2:00.35 to win the Chicago Marathon
The announcer said: ‘Kelvin was a world record holder at the age of 24 and had the sport of marathon at his feet.’
Kiptum made history in October 2023 when he clocked 2:00.35 to win the Chicago Marathon, breaking compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s world record by 34 seconds.
Kiptum would have been the favorite to win gold at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, in what would be an almighty showdown against his teammate Kipchoge, the 39-year-old two-time defending champion.
The news rocked the athletics world. World Athletics president Seb Coe led the tributes to Kiptum at the time, saying he was “an incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy.”
Kenenisa Bekele, the Ethiopian former Olympic 10,000 and 5,000 meter champion who at the age of 41 is still competing in the elite marathon field, said this week that Kiptum had already made “a great history” in the sport.
“Kelvin of course, we all miss him,” said Bekele, who finished second at the 2017 London Marathon.
The wreckage of the car in which Kiptum and his carriage were traveling after it crashed into a large tree
It is said that Kiptum lost control of his vehicle at the Kaptagat area along the Eldama Ravine-Eldoret on his way back from Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County
‘We have given him a special place in our hearts because… he has done a lot for our sport in a short time.’
A female passenger, Sharon Chepkemoi, 32, was in the car but survived the crash.
Kiptum, a father of two and son of a runner and volleyball player, lost control of his vehicle at Kaptagat area along Eldama Ravine-Eldoret on his way back from Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County.
Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei said the vehicle veered off the road into a ditch before hitting a large tree 60 meters off the main road.
According to Kenneth Kimaiyo – one of the first responders at the crash site – via NationKiptum’s body was found under the vehicle while the runner was already dead and Hakizimana was still alive on a hill.
He said he saw a man on a motorcycle helping Chepkemoi to the scene, who shouted for help and was taken to Sanvanis Dispensary before being transferred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
“We tried to save the carriage because it was still breathing, but it died immediately,” said Kimaiyo, who added that he had known Kiptum for a long time as he often visited his shop in Chepkorio.
“Kiptum was under his car with a torn seat belt and he was already dead,” he revealed.