LOLZLetter 261 | An Ode to Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyo
Welcome,
I had a completely different newsletter this week, but it didn't feel right with the sudden passing of Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot and his coach Gervais Hakizimana in a tragic car accident. I didn't know a lot about Cheruiyo, except he ran the world record in the marathon so I thought I would do some research and share what I can find on his life and how he became an elite marathoner. He was a favorite for a gold medal in Paris.
Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot was born on December 2, 1999 and tragically passed away on February 11, 2024. He was a distinguished Kenyan long-distance runner who currently held the marathon world record. He was the first person to complete a marathon in under 2:01 in an official and legal race. He also registered three of the top seven fastest marathon times ever recorded.
Kiptum is the second Kenyan marathoner to die at the peak of their career. Some many remember, Samuel Wanjiru, passed when he fell from a balcony in his home in Nyahururu.
Cheruiyot's marathon career, although brief, was marked by success. He triumphed in all three marathons he entered, including two victories in the elite World Marathon Majors.
Marathon Journey:
Born in the high-altitude region of Chepsamo village in Chepkorio, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Cheruiyot's upbringing in Kenya's Rift Valley—where we see many elite Kenyan runners come from. From herding cattle to emulating the barefoot runners of his homeland, Cheruiyot's early exposure to the sport laid the foundation for his future successes. He began his formal training at the age of 13, marking the start of a promising career.
Cheruiyot's competitive spirit was evident from his early teens, participating in local half marathons and gradually coming to the international stage. By 2018, he had his first victory in the Family Bank Eldoret Half Marathon and continued to excel in various races across Europe.
His marathon journey began with a record-setting debut at the Valencia Marathon in 2022, where he became the third man to finish a marathon in under 2:02, recording what was then the fourth fastest time in marathon history. This performance was followed by a near world-record run at the 2023 London Marathon, where he missed the world record by just 16 seconds. At the Chicago Marathon and at the age of 23, he shattered the world record by 34 seconds and ran a 2:00.35. The world was excited to see the first person run under 2:00 in a legal race.
We don't know a lot about Cheruiyot's training, but we do know he ran high mileage and had intense workouts. He was coached by Gervais Hakizimana.
Conclusion:
The tragic loss of Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot in a car accident, which also claimed the life of his coach, has shocked the running community. The crash happened near the high-altitude town of Kapsabet in western Kenya. This area is known as a training base for the best distance runners in the world.
His journey from a young boy in Chepkorio to a world-record-holding marathoner shows that truly anything is possible.
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