Kelvin Kiptum

Kenyan marathon marvel Kelvin Kiptum burst from relative obscurity to rewrite distance-running history in just 14 electrifying months. A former herdsboy who logged his earliest miles chasing livestock across the Rift Valley’s escarpments, he announced himself by winning the 2022 Valencia Marathon in 2:01:53, the fastest debut ever recorded. He followed with a breathtaking 2:01:25 victory on the rain-slick streets of London in April 2023, then shattered Eliud Kipchoge’s world record at the Chicago Marathon that October, slicing more than half a minute off the benchmark with an astonishing 2:00:35. Possessing a fearless negative split and a metronomic stride, the 24-year-old looked poised to become the first man to officially break the two-hour barrier in open competition.

That promise ended abruptly on 11 February 2024 when Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, died in a late-night car crash outside Eldoret. Kenya accorded him a state funeral, mourning a champion whose humility matched his relentless drive. Though his career spanned barely two seasons, Kiptum’s performances recalibrated what the human body and especially young African talent can achieve on the roads. His record stands as both a monument and a challenge, inspiring the next generation to chase the line he moved so dramatically closer to history.