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Kelvin Kiptum, Agnes Tirop and others: Kenyan athletes who died in their prime

Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum celebrates winning the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in Chicago, Illinois, in a world record time of two hours and 35 seconds on October 8, 2023. (Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/ AFP)

By Mary Wambui | 12 Feb 2024

Among them are Agnes Tirop, Samuel Wanjiru, Nicholas Bett and Richard Chelimo.

Kenya is mourning athlete Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a road accident on the Eldoret- Eldama Ravine road, on Sunday night, alongside his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimama.

Kiptum's future was bright - at just 24, he had consistently won multiple marathons, in Valencia, Chicago, London, and other top competitions.

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President William Ruto eulogised the athlete as "a hero", "a star" and "arguably one of the world’s finest sportsmen, who broke barriers to secure a marathon record".

"His mental strength and discipline were unmatched. Kiptum was our future. An extraordinary sportsman has left an extraordinary mark on the globe," he said.

As condolence messages pour in, memories of other Kenyan athletes who died in their prime have been ignited:

Damaris Muthee Mutua (1994-2022)

Muthee was born in Kenya but competed in Bahrain.

Before switching to Bahrain, she had won a bronze medal for Kenya in the 1,000m race at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.

The long-distance runner's body was found in Iten in a state of decomposition. An autopsy revealed she was strangled.

Her Ethiopian boyfriend, Eskinder Hailemariam Folie, who had been training with her at the same facility in Iten, was linked to the death.

Record-breaking Kenyan distance runner Agnes Tirop. (Photo: File/ AFP)

Agnes Tirop (1995 –2021)

Tirop was killed at her home in Iten on October 13, 2021, just five weeks after setting a new record at the women's only 10-kilometer run in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

She was also a double world 10,000m bronze medallist and 2015 world cross country champion who also finished fourth in the 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics.

Tirop's death robbed Kenya of a developing sporting fairy tale as her record wins kept improving with every race she participated in.

Her husband Ibrahim Rotich was blamed for the murder and was charged in court and later granted release on Sh400,000 bond or Sh500,000 cash bail.

Following the court appearance last November, Rotich was barred from leaving his home county of Uasin Gishu or visiting Iten. He was also ordered not to interfere with witnesses in the case.

Nicholas Bett (1990-2018)

Bett was a track and field athlete who competed in 400m hurdles, hitting a personal best of 47.79 seconds and winning the 2015 competition to become world champion.

He was also a a two-time bronze medallist at the African Championships.

At the age of 28, Bett died in a car accident between Eldoret and Kapsabet, after returning from the African Championships in Nigeria.

His loss left behind a void in Kenyan athletics as he was also a beacon of hope in track and field events.

Olympic Champion Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya poses with his trophy near Buckingham Palace after winning the Men's Elite 2009 London Marathon in London on April 26, 2008. (Photo: AFP)

Samuel Wanjiru (1986-2011)

Wanjiru was a long distance runner who made history in 2008 when he won Kenya's first Olympic marathon gold. He accomplished this in an Olympic record time of 2:06:32 in games held in Beijing, China. He became the youngest gold medallist in the marathon since 1932.

Wanjiru also set the 10,000m World Junior Record in 2005 and the half marathon world record three times.

In 2009, he won both the London Marathon in the UK and the Chicago Marathon in the US, setting records.

The Olympic champion died in 2011 after falling from the balcony of his home in Nyahururu following a domestic squabble.

David Lelei (1971-2010)

Lelei was a middle-distance runner who specialised in the 800m and 1500m races.

In 1999, he finished seventh in the 1500m race at the World Championships in Seville, Spain.

At the All-Africa Games in Johannesburg, South Africa, he won the silver medal in the 1500m race.

Lelei also finished fourth at the 2001 World Indoor Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.

He died in a road accident in 2010.

Kenyan athlete Hosea Mwok Macharinyang. (Photo: File/ World Athletics)

Hosea Mwok Macharinyang (1986-2008)

The quiet athlete is remembered for winning three consecutive titles at the world cross-country championships between 2006 and 2008.

Apart from shining on track, the 35-year-old also finished fifth in his marathon debut at the Stramilano Half Marathon in 2008.

The following year, he won the annual Tuskys Cross Country title in Eldoret before going on to finish fifth at the Udine Half Marathon in Italy.

Macharinyang was found dead at his home in Murkwijit, West Pokot County.

Richard Chelimo (1972-2001)

Chelimo was a long distance runner best known for winning the silver medal in the 10,000m race at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

He broke the world junior and senior 10,000 m world record in Stockholm, Germany, in 1993, clocking 27:07.91.

He held the senior record for just five days and the junior record for more than 10 years.

He died from a brain tumour.

Other stars

Other athletes Kenya has lost over the years include Gilbert Kwemoi (August 2021), Francis Kiplagat (February 2018), Ian Mutuku (October 2016), Jefferson Siekei (February 2009).

In December last year, Kenyan-born Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead in his car near Eldoret with a stab wound to his neck. Two men have been charged with his murder.

The fallen stars are remembered for their achievements in the limited time they had to compete.