Olympic marathon gold medal favourite and world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum has died.
The Kenyan distance running superstar was in a traffic accident on Monday morning (AEDT).
He was just 24.
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Kenayan Prime Minister Raila Odinga confirmed the devastating news.
“Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, world record holder and Kenyan athletics icon,” the Prime Minister wrote on social media.
“Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight.
“My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity. Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
Kiptum’s passing comes just days after his world record-shattering marathon time of 2:00.35 was officially ratified.
The rising superstar beat Eliud Kipchoge’s previous best mark in Chicago last October, becoming the first person to ever run sub-2:01.00 in an officially recognised race.
Kipchoge’s record of 2:01.09 had stood since September 2022.
“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record — I am so happy,” Kiptum said last year after becoming the world’s best.
“A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”
The Olympic marathon later this year had been billed as one of the most exciting in history, with Kipchoge and Kiptum having been set to lock horns in Paris.
Many expected Kiptum eventually to become the first runner ever to break the magical two-hour mark under official race conditions.
Kipchoge broke two hours in Vienna in 2019, but only with the help of specially engineered conditions in what was an exhibition event, not a race.
More to come …