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Arrests made over record-holder's sudden tragic death

<p>Arrests have been made after Kelvin Kiptum's father claimed that four men had attended his home looking for the Kenyan superstar before his death. </p> <p>The marathon world record holder tragically <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/world-record-holder-dies-tragically-at-age-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away</a> at the age of 24, after a horrific collision that occurred in Western Kenya on Monday killed both him and his coach Gervais Hakizimana. </p> <p>Kenyan police have arrested four unidentified men after Kiptum's father, Samson Cheruiyot, called for an investigation into a visit that he said occurred just before the accident. </p> <p>"The four were taken to Elgeyo Marakwet for further investigations,"  Keiyo South Sub County commandant Abdullahi Dahir said. </p> <p>"They all come from Uasin Gishu County."</p> <p>Kiptum's devastated father broke down as he spoke about the death of his own child. </p> <p>"There are people who came home a while back who were looking for Kiptum, but they refused to identify themselves," Cheruiyot recalled. </p> <p>"I asked them to provide identification, but they opted to leave. It was a group of four people."</p> <p>He also recalled the moment he found out about his son's death. </p> <p>"I got the news of my son's death while I was watching the news," Kiptum's father said.</p> <p>"I went to the scene of the accident but the police had taken the body to Eldoret."</p> <p>Kiptum broke the marathon world record that was previously held by Eliud Kipchoge, after storming through the race in Chicago in just two hours and 35 seconds.</p> <p>Cheruiyot said that he last spoke to his son a day before his death. </p> <p>"He told me someone will come and help us build a house," he said.</p> <p>"He said that his body is now fit and he can now run for 1:59.</p> <p>"Kiptum was my only child. He has left me, his mum and his kids. I have no other child. His mum was sick for a while. Right now I'm deeply saddened."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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World record holder dies tragically at age 24

<p>Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has tragically died at the age of 24. </p> <p>The Kenyan athlete and his his coach, Rwanda's Gervais Hakizimana, both passed away after a horrific traffic collision on Monday, that occurred in western Kenya. </p> <p>The crash happened on a road between the towns of Eldoret and Kaptagat, where a noted high-altitude training centre for long-distance athletes is located. </p> <p>In October 2023, Kiptum set the world record of 2 hours and 35 seconds at the Chicago Marathon.</p> <p>The record was only made official by World Athletics on February 7th, just five days before his untimely death.</p> <p>Kenya's Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba spoke out on Kiptum's death, writing on X, "Devastatingly sickening!! Kenya has lost a special gem. Lost for words."</p> <p>Former prime minister Raila Odinga described Kiptum as a "Kenyan athletics icon" in a statement on social media, writing, "Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual."</p> <p>"My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity."</p> <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> <p>"Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero."</p> <p>After making his marathon debut just over a year ago, Kiptum <span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ran three of the fastest seven marathons in history during his brief </span><span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">career. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">The Kenyan athlete had declared his goals to take home a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the weeks before his death. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">Image credits: Getty Images </span></em></p> </div>

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