Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, 37, were both killed in the accident, and a 24-year-old woman identified as Sharon Kosgey suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, he said. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Kiptum made international headlines in October when he won the Chicago marathon in 2 hours 35 seconds, making him the first man to run an official race in under 2 hours 1 minute, and overtaking fellow Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge’s record. A year before, Kiptum had never raced in a marathon.
“I didn’t know I’d be a great marathon runner,” he told a reporter after his Chicago victory, describing his skill as something that came naturally.
Nahashon Kibon, a retired runner and professional coach in Kenya, told The Washington Post that he had trained with Kiptum on Saturday.
“I will remember him as a great man. He was very jovial. We laughed, we talked — he was a very good guy,” he said. “He was still young. It’s sad that we lost him.”
In a social media post, Kenyan President William Ruto called Kiptum “a star” and “arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen.”
“He was only 24 yet, as a hero, triumphed in Valencia, Chicago, London and in other top competitions,” he said. “His mental strength and discipline were unmatched. Kiptum was our future.”
Other prominent figures, including two-time Olympic champion runner David Rudisha and former Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga shared their shock and sadness over the athlete’s death.
“Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero,” Odinga said.
Kiptum in April was slated to run the 2024 Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands and had said he was aiming to run the race in under two hours. He also had his eye on the Paris Olympics this summer.
“I have just started my training, and I hope to go there and do my best,” he told World Athletics in an interview published in December. “Maybe to beat my time. I think I try each time to push my limit.”