Kelvin Kiptum was a Kenyan long-distance runner, holds the unofficial Marathon World Record, being the sole individual to complete a marathon in under 2:01:00 in an officially recognized race. Kiptum’s remarkable achievement includes three of the top six fastest marathons ever recorded.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 24 years
Height- 5 feet 11 inches
Weight-65kg
Full name-Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot
Born- 2 December 1999
Birthplace- Keiyo District, Kenya
Death date-11 February 2024
Profession-Kenyan long-distance runner
Nationality- Kenyan
Coached by- self-coached
Parents
Born on September 24, 1997, in Kenya, Kelvin Kiptum hails from a family deeply rooted in athletics. His father and brother were both runners, instilling a passion for the sport within him from an early age. Kelvin demonstrated his keen interest in athletics and commenced training at a young age.
Girlfriend
Kelvin remains unmarried, channeling his energy and attention entirely towards his career, which has prevented him from pursuing any romantic relationships.
Career
In October 2018, at the age of 18, Kelvin Kiptum emerged victorious in the Eldoret Half Marathon in Kenya, clocking in at 1:02:01. He made his international debut at the Lisbon Half Marathon in March 2019, securing fifth place with a personal best time of 59:54. Kiptum continued to shine, achieving consecutive milestones in the event with a remarkable time of 58:42, placing sixth at the Valencia Half Marathon in December 2020. In 2021, he posted impressive performances with half marathon times of 59:35 and 59:02 in Lens, France (first place), and Valencia (eighth place) respectively.
In 2022, Kiptum made his marathon debut in Valencia, Spain, on December 4. He finished first with a closing half time of 60:15, setting a new course record of 2:01:53. This achievement made him the third man in history to break the 2:02 barrier, alongside Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele. Kiptum’s debut also marked him as the fastest marathon debutant ever.
Moving into 2023, Kiptum continued his impressive streak. In his debut at a World Marathon Major on April 23, he triumphed at the London Marathon with a time of 2:01:25, falling just 16 seconds short of the world record. This performance shattered the previous course record held by Kipchoge, clocking in over a minute faster. Notably, he also improved his own record for the fastest closing half from his Valencia run.
On October 8, at the Chicago Marathon, Kiptum made history by setting a new world record of 2:00:35, pending ratification. This incredible feat surpassed Eliud Kipchoge’s previous record of 2:01:09, set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
Achievement/ Awards
Road
- 10 kilometers – 28:17 (Utrecht 2019)
- Half-marathon – 58:42 (Valencia 2020)
- Marathon – 2:01:25 (London 2023), 3rd fastest ever
- Marathon – 2:00:35 (Chicago 2023), new world record
Marathon competition record
Personal bests
- 10,000 meters – 28:27.87 (Stockholm 2021)
Year Competition Venue Position Time Notes
World Marathon Majors
- 2023 Chicago Marathon Chicago, United States 1st 2:00:35 PB, World Record
- 2023 London Marathon London, England 1st 2:01:25 PB, 3rd fastest all-time
Other marathons
- 2022 Valencia Marathon Valencia, Spain 1st 2:01:53 PB, 6th fastest all-time
Kelvin Kiptum Shoes
World Athletics has officially approved the shoe, known as ‘NikeDev163,’ for developmental use until December 3 this year. While specific details about its properties have not been disclosed publicly, elite Nike runners have been testing and using it in recent months.
Net Worth 2023
Kelvin has an estimated net worth of approximately $500,000.
Kelvin Kiptum Shatters Marathon Record in Chicago
Kelvin Kiptum achieved a groundbreaking feat at the Chicago Marathon, completing the race in 2 hours and 35 seconds. This achievement shattered the previous world record held by fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge by 34 seconds. The favorable cool and cloudy weather conditions, considered optimal for a marathon, also contributed to Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands winning the women’s race in 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 44 seconds – the second-fastest time ever recorded for a woman at that distance. Kiptum had previously triumphed at the London Marathon with a remarkable time of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 25 seconds, nearly a minute faster than Kipchoge’s previous world record set in Berlin the previous year.
Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion and highly accomplished marathoner, had held the title as the most successful marathoner until Kiptum’s exceptional performance.
“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record — I am so happy,” Kiptum said.
“A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”
Kipchoge also achieved a sub-2-hour marathon in 2019 during a specially organized exhibition in Vienna, although this feat does not officially qualify as a world record.
Hassan’s impressive time ranks second in the women’s marathon world record list, trailing behind Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia, who set a remarkable time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds in Berlin just last month. Assefa managed to break the women’s world record by more than two minutes.
Recent times in marathons have been consistently breaking records, partly due to the introduction of advanced ‘super shoes’ designed for a single race, enabling runners to achieve previously unimaginable speeds.
The Sunday event saw participation from over 47,000 runners, highlighting the increasing popularity and competitiveness in the marathon community.
Cause of Death
Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum, passed away at the age of 24. Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana of Rwanda, tragically lost their lives in a traffic accident on Monday (AEDT), as reported by various sources.
The incident occurred on a road connecting Eldoret and Kaptagat in western Kenya, a renowned hub for high-altitude training among long-distance runners. Notably, Kiptum’s record had just been officially recognized by World Athletics on February 7, merely five days before the fatal accident.
Kenya’s Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba said on X, “Devastatingly sickening!! Kenya has lost a special gem. Lost for words.”
Former prime minister Raila Odinga described Kiptum as a “Kenyan athletics icon” in a statement on X.
“Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual,” he wrote.
“My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity.
