Kelvin Kiptum: How one man changed the face of the sport in one year

Kelvin Kiptum: How one man changed the face of the sport in one year

Three races, three wins, and three of the seven fastest times ever, including a world record. Short, simple, and gone. In pure athletics terms, if you were to summarize the life of Kenyan marathon star Kelvin Kiptum, who passed away on the 11^th of February 2024. It came as a huge shock to the athletics world for many reasons, but primarily for the fact that he was tipped to go under 2 hours for the first time in Rotterdam in April and also snagged the Olympic title in Paris.

The last 100m meters of a marathon race is often time run with every iota of strength left in a human. Not so much for professional athletes. Even they still sometimes grin till the end. But one man in the fall of Chicago in 2023 brought a new dimension to how we see things. A video of his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, jumping as he waited for Kiptum, waving and blowing kisses to the fans as he crossed the line in Chicago. It was a Son- Father/Elder brother scenario. If you were an athletics purist, the moment should be etched in your mind.

Sadly, the world would not get to see that moment recreated in the subsequent years (at least not from these two) as they both were involved in the motor accident.

Kiptum’s rapid ascent to marathoning stardom occurred amidst a whirlwind of course records and world records in Valencia, London, and Chicago. Despite his remarkable achievements, the running community was still acquainting itself with this serious and reserved athlete. Kiptum, although propelled into the global spotlight by his exceptional times, remained somewhat of an enigma, with his pre-marathon life story still unfolding.

Hailing from Chepsamo, a humble village near Chepkorio in Kenya’s Rift Valley, Kiptum’s upbringing was marked by modesty and perseverance. Born to a cattle farmer, he initially expressed an interest in becoming an electrician before eventually dedicating himself to running. Unlike many athletes who begin their careers on the track, Kiptum chose to immerse himself in road racing from the outset, setting the stage for his extraordinary journey.

Kiptum burst onto the marathon scene with unprecedented speed. It felt like a bolt. Debuting in December 2022 in Valencia, he stunned the world with a 2:01:53 victory, setting the fastest marathon debut ever. Just four…