RIP: Marathon WR Kelvin Kiptum has died in a car accident at the age of 24

So much lifetime and running potential left untapped. Very very sad news.

This legitimately has me crying. I love the sport of running because I enjoy seeing people do incredible things, run fast, and challenge each other. Like most here I don't have the talent to be a pro let alone set a world record. As such I experience these things vicariously through athletes like Kelvin Kiptum. I'm the same age as Kiptum. I expected great things from him this year and in the coming years. Now he's gone. The sport will sincerely miss him

Is this definitely true? It hasn't yet been picked up by any news sources outside of Kenya (major or otherwise) ...

man.. so sad. RIP. horrible news

It is not hyperbolic to say we have never seen anything like Kiptum in the marathon. He smashed the debut record in dazzling fashion, then the world record. In his 3 marathons, he AVERAGED 2:01:17. What he showed us he was capable of past the 20mile mark will forever change what we think of the event. I cannot think of many examples of an athlete in the very pinnacle of their prime being taken away. It reminds me of Len Bias or Sammy Wanjiru. This is a sad day for track and field, and I hope Kelvin is setting fire to the roads wherever he is now.

A couple more details provided here

Kiptum was driving and swerved off the road and crashed into a tree

Another passenger, Sharon Kosgey, survived

nation.africa

Shock as World Marathon record holder Kiptum, coach die in road accident

The accident happened on Sunday at 11pm.

Open link

I feel sick and have no desire to watch SB. RIP young man

That's ridiculous. Your job is to race the people who are on the starting line, not the people who didn't make it to the starting line for whatever reason.

Wtf .... life is so cruel man. It can end at any second. Dont ever take it for granted.

No fcking way what the fk

Such a positive person. Sad for his family. Sad for the world of running. No good words.

Holy crap. RIP

Same, usually celebrity deaths don’t hit me super hard but this one has me very upset. Everyone needs to remember to take every day as a gift because you never know when there won’t be a tomorrow.

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.
Today, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.
Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.
Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears.
Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.
So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.
And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl’s.

RIP Kelvin Kiptum

I'm in shock. He will always be a legend of the sport, forever an amazing talent. He would of gone under 2 and gotten Gold.

Puts life in perspective - so sad because he had so much greatness left to give.

Pre died at the same age, too. It’s awful to see people die so young.

it's crazy to think a sub2hr marathon seemed like an absolute certain within the next 2years, and now god knows how long it'll be until we come across a talent that will do it

Devastating news, condolences to his friends and family, running has lost one of the all time greats.