Kelvin Kiptum: The Kenyan marathon runner destined for greatness
Kelvin Kiptum, a Kenyan athlete, was almost about to achieve great success before his life was tragically ended due to a road accident.
A person who is now 24 years old couldn't buy shoes six years ago to participate in his first important race. Recently, he has been recognized as one of the most outstanding marathon runners in the world.
Consider the fact that he had not once completed the entire race prior to 2022, his swift climb to the top of the athletics world left numerous individuals amazed.
The runner who was calm and devoted to his work was also very brave. He seemed to avoid attention after he broke the world record previously set by Eliud Kipchoge in Chicago.
Maybe "taken" is too gentle of a term. The man who has two children forcefully stole the title from Kipchoge, exceeding his record-breaking time by more than 30 seconds. He finished the entire 42.2km (which is equal to 26.2 miles) in precisely two hours and 35 seconds.
Many people in Kenya are shocked by the sudden fame and the unrealized potential of the marathon runner, who usually improves as they age.
According to Kiptum, he declared that his profession was only "beginning" after winning in Chicago.
He had set his sights on completing the Rotterdam Marathon in under two hours in April - a feat that has never been accomplished during an open race and would have solidified his position in the history books.
Last November, he stated that setting lofty goals did not intimidate him, as he embraced the Kipchoge-inspired maxim of "no human is limited." He firmly believes that human energy knows no bounds.
Wesley Korir, a retired athlete who was with Kiptum in Chicago when he broke the world record, described him as an extremely modest individual who doesn't say much but runs like a well-oiled machine when he does. This was shared during an interview with BBC's program, Focus on Africa.
Kiptum originated and was brought up in a small settlement that is approximately 37km from Eldoret town in the Rift Valley district.
This region has given rise to some of the most accomplished long-distance runners globally. However, victory is not a foregone conclusion, as it demands a degree of tenacity and determination that not everyone can comprehend.
Kiptum was raised on a farm and played an important role in looking after his family's cows. Despite this responsibility, he knew from a young age that he had a passion for becoming an athlete.
The reason he became interested in running was because he observed his cousin, who was a runner that frequently served as a pacemaker for the famous Ethiopian athlete, Haile Gebrselassie.
On the other hand, his dad didn't seem too excited about his career decision.
Kiptum reminisced about an interview he had with the BBC last year, where he remembered being asked to pursue a diploma in electrical studies. However, he passionately argued that he aspired to become an athlete and that was where his true passion lay.
That particular duration proved to be quite difficult for me as I had dedicated four years to intense training, but unfortunately, I did not attain any victories and ultimately faced disappointment from others. Nevertheless, I persevered and continued to strive for success.
In due course, his dad had a change of heart and began to assist him with arriving at his early morning training sessions on occasion.
Following Kiptum's remarkable achievement, his father praised him extensively as a "well-behaved child who has remained faithful to his upbringing."
The blog's image is from Getty Images.
Kiptum was full of joy when he finished the Chicago Marathon last year.
However, there was another individual who played a vital role in supporting him - his coach from Rwanda named Gervais Hakizimana.
On Sunday, he was a passenger in the car driven by Kiptum. Unfortunately, the car crashed into a tree, resulting in his untimely death.
Hakizimana was the one who persuaded his student to transition from competing in half-marathons.
Hakizimana stated that Kiptum required a period of adjustment to become comfortable with the notion of participating in the entire 42.2km marathon since he was apprehensive at first that it could potentially be too challenging.
In the previous year, Hakizimana stated that the individual had certain apprehensions and opted for the less challenging half-marathon instead. It wasn't until 2022 that the person eventually assented to participate in a full marathon.
The coach-athlete bond commenced in 2018, but the two initially became acquainted when the owner of the world record was significantly younger, during their time in the village.
Hakizimana reminisced about the time he had crossed paths with the boy who used to herd animals without shoes. This was back in 2009, when Hakizimana was practicing close to the boy's father's land. The youngster had a habit of nipping at Hakizimana's heels, which would cause him to chase the boy away.
At present, I feel thankful towards him for his accomplishment.
Kiptum's display of skill during their initial complete marathon in Valencia in the year 2022 caught the attention of those around them.
He finished the marathon in 2 hours, 1 minute and 53 seconds, which was the fourth quickest time ever recorded at that time. It was also the fastest time ever achieved by a runner who was making their debut marathon appearance.
He had already shown the running style that would become his identifiable characteristic - running with the other top runners until around 30km and then increasing his speed.
According to sports commentator Martin Keino, Kiptum's ability to race without fear is what it takes to be successful.
In the initial part of the marathon, he is exerting a cautious approach and gradually picks up the pace in the latter half, which is an unusual strategy to witness in racing.
In April 2023, he created a new course record of 2:01:25 at the London Marathon and after six months, he broke the world record in Chicago.
"I am extremely elated. The thought of breaking a world record did not even cross my mind today," he expressed during that moment.
He had a desire to complete a run in under two hours, which surely would have solidified his legacy indefinitely.
Kipchoge expressed his belief that Kiptum had a bright future ahead of him, with the potential to accomplish remarkable things.
He was the sole offspring of his parents. His loved ones who survived him are his spouse, Asenath Rotich, and their two offspring.
Further investigation was conducted by Celestine Karoney
