Kelvin Kiptum

KENMen

Kelvin Kiptum was a Kenyan long-distance runner born on 2 December 1999 who set the marathon world record with a time of 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. At the time of his death, he was ranked first among the world's men's marathon runners and held three of the seven fastest marathon times in history.

Kiptum won all three marathons he ever ran. He debuted with the fastest-ever marathon debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, becoming only the third man to break 2:02. Four months later, he ran the second-fastest marathon in history at the 2023 London Marathon with a time of 2:01:25, just 16 seconds outside the world record. He set a course record under 2:02 in each of his three races.

Tragically, Kiptum and his coach died in a car crash on 11 February 2024 in Kaptagat, Kenya, just five days after World Athletics ratified his world record. He was 24 years old.