Who is Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot?
Birth of a Champion
Born on 2 December 1999, little did the residents of a small rural Chepsamo village, Elgeyo-Marakwet County of Kenya’s Rift Valley know that he was a champion in making- a boy who would come to break the world marathon record 23 years later. Just like many other boys in the village, Kelvin wasn’t exceptional. From a young age, he herded his family’s cattle. It was until around 2013, when he was 13 years old, that he started training.
Family
“Kiptum was my only child”, Samson Cheruiyot, his father lamented. Kelvin Kiptum had a private life and nothing much is on the social media. He has left behind his wife and two children (7 years and 4 years old).
Career
Kelvin was a Kenyan long-distance marathoner. He is the world record holder and the only person in history to run the marathon under two hours and one minute. Though Kelvin came to the spotlight in October, 2023 Chicago Marathon where he broke the world record by 34 seconds, he made his marathon debut in 2022 Valencia Marathon, which was the fastest-ever world marathon debut in history. He ran his second race 6 months prior to his final one in April 2023, the London marathon, where he was the second-fastest marathon in history at 2:01:25. This was 16 seconds only short of the world history. His debut at the international stage was at Lisbon Half Marathon, Portugal, in March 2019.
Of course, to become a world marathon recorder calls for a lot of hard work, resilience, determination, hunger and thirst, and a lot of sacrifice. Kelvin was a great example, in 2014, he finished in the 10th position in his first half marathon, the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon in his native Kenya. In 2014 he finished 12th. It wasn’t until 2018 that he took his first victory, winning this race with a time of 62:01 while he was a teenager.
As it is well-known in Kenya, many young upcoming athletes and talents have remained untapped because of selfish and corrupt Athletic Kenya officials and gatekeepers. Kitum’s journey wasn’t all a walk in the park. Sources say that at one point he was contemplating changing his nationality for Great Britain until his coach came to his rescue.
Preparations and Training
Though he had been training with other youths since 2013, it was not until he met his coach that he started training for the marathon. In 2020, Kelvin Kiptum commenced collaboration with the record holder for the 3000 meters steeplechase in Rwanda, Gervais Hakizimana, as his coach. His coach gave an account of his running discipline and prowess which included morning runs covering 25–28 km, track or fartlek sessions on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and demanding long-distance runs of 30–40 km at a pace nearly equivalent to a marathon pace on Thursdays and Sundays.
Death
It was on the 11th of February 2024, 24 years of age, that Kelvin Kiptum met his death. He was driving a Toyota Premio, together with his coach and a third occupant, along Elgeyo-Marakwet to Eldama Ravine road where his coach and himself died on the spot. This happened after he lost command of his vehicle, swerving off the road and subsequently entering a ditch, ultimately colliding with a tree. The third occupant has since been discharged from a local hospital.
Controversies
In October 2023, Kelvin won the Chicago marathon and his Bank of America Chicago Marathon record of 2:00:35 was ratified recently. Many thought Kiptum was destined for remarkable achievements. Numerous individuals are left with more questions than answers, pondering whether there might be someone or a group of people who actively worked hard to ensure the premature conclusion of this young man’s dreams. It is truly disheartening.
One source noted that if the vehicle hit the tree, how come the bumper remained intact? What if Kiptum and his coach were still alive and were left behind to be “dealt with” while the third person was taken to the hospital?
His father, just like many citizens, is urging the necessary authorities to get to the bottom of this and get all the facts right.
Rejoinder
Kelvin’s demise has sparked numerous responses from diverse quarters. “Kiptum was our future,” said Kenyan President William Ruto. Kenya’s sports cabinet secretary Ababu Namwamba said Kenya has “lost a special gem.” President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, in his tribute, stated they were “deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss”. Kenya’s former prime minister was also among those paying respects. He described the deaths as “devastating news” in his X account.
His death has attracted the attention of other current and former athletes, including the greatest marathoner of all, Kipchoge Keino who took time to mourn Kelvin’s demise where he referred to him as “a rising star” as noted in his Facebook official account. Omanyala who is the African record holder and the ninth-fastest man of all time. Double Olympic gold medalist David Rudisha, as well as Australian former world champion marathon runner Robert de Castella, among others.
