Kenya’s long-distance running community mourns the tragic loss of marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, whose promising career was cut short in a fatal car crash late Sunday. The 24-year-old athlete, who had recently had his world record ratified by World Athletics, was seen as a rising star in the sport and a leading contender for gold at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Kiptum’s untimely death also claimed the life of his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, from Rwanda. The pair were involved in a fatal accident around 11 p.m. on a road between Eldoret and Kaptagat in western Kenya, a renowned high-altitude training hub for elite distance runners. Milcah Chemos, another Kenyan athlete, confirmed the tragic news, expressing her grief at the hospital mortuary where the bodies were taken.

The crash, which occurred on a route frequented by athletes for training, has shocked the tight-knit running community. Kiptum, a native of the area, was driving the vehicle, and no other cars were involved in the accident, according to Denis Muga, the local police chief for Kaptagat.

As friends, family, and fellow athletes gather to mourn the loss of Kiptum and Hakizimana, their legacy in the world of distance running will be remembered, and their absence felt deeply by all those who knew them.