Kelvin Kiptum was a Kenyan athlete and the fastest marathon runner in history. He is the only one to run a record-eligible marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute. He ran three of the seven fastest marathons in history, all of which he won including two top-tier World Marathon Majors. He was ranked first among the world’s men’s marathon runners and is considered by many one of the greatest athletes in African history. Here is how Kelvin Kiptum attained his title as the fastest marathon runner in history.
Kelvin Kiptum Biography
Kelvin Kiptum was born on 2 December 1999, as the only child of his father Samson Cheruiyot, and his wife. He grew up in Chepsamo village, in Elgeyo-Marakwet County of Kenya. Together with nearby counties of Kenya, the region is known as the birthplace of many renowned Kenyan runners and also as a mecca for foreign runners.
As a young boy, Kiptum herded his family’s cattle and began following other barefoot runners along the forest trails. According to Kiptum in a BBC interview, His interest in running came from watching his cousin, a runner who often worked as a pacemaker for Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie. His family was however not thrilled with the choice of his career.
Kiptum started training as a professional runner in 2013 at the age of 13. In the same year, he participated in his first half marathon, the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon in Kenya, finishing 10th place and 12th place the following year. He continued to participate in the Half Marathon until he took his victory in 2018 winning the race with a record time of 62 minutes, 1 second.
Kelvin Kiptum Career
Kiptum began his professional career on the international stage at the Lisbon Half Marathon, Portugal, in March 2019, where he finished fifth in 59 minutes, 54 seconds. He participated also in six other races that year touring north and west Europe, and winning the tough Kass Half Marathon, back in Kenya in the same year. Throughout 2020 and 2022, he participated in numerous half-marathons including the Spanish Valencia Half Marathon, where he ran 58 minutes 42 seconds, taking sixth place. He won a half marathon in Lens, France in 2022.
In December 2022, Kiptum grabbed the attention of the whole world when he pulled off an upset when debuting in the classic 42.195 km distance at the Valencia Marathon. He took the victory with the fourth-fastest time ever of 2:01:53, becoming the third man in history to break two hours and two minutes Marathon record. He also set the quickest second half in marathon history with a time of 60:15. His winning time was by far the fastest marathon debut in history, smashing the course record by over a minute.
In his debut at the World Marathon Major at the London Marathon in April 2023, Kiptum shocked the world again by winning the race with the second-fastest mark in history at 2:01:25, a course record that was only 16 seconds outside the world record. He beat Geoffrey Kamworor, a veteran Kenya athlete, by nearly three minutes and set the record for the quickest half in a marathon. Participating in his second World Marathon Major at the Chicago Marathon on 8 October 2023, Kiptum set a new world marathon record, winning the race within a record time of two hours and 35 seconds.
Death
On the 11th of February 2024, Kelvin Kiptum alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana reportedly passed away in a road accident in Kaptagat, Kenya. The Local police stated that Kiptum lost control of his car and veered off the road, before entering a ditch and colliding with a tree. The news of his death was reported across all international media, with tributes pouring in from renowned people and entities all over the world.
Kenyan President William Ruto in his tribute stated that “Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record.” He later ordered a house to be built for Kiptum’s family, to be completed within a 40-day mourning period.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe in his tribute remarked: “On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates, and the Kenyan nation. It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time. An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
Former marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge said: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the Marathon World record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum. An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness. I offer my deepest condolences to his young family. May God comfort you during this trying time.
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