Thursday, March 12, 2026 - Legendary Kenyan marathon icon, Eliud Kipchoge, has spoken out for the first time about the rumours that circulated after the tragic death of fellow runner, Kelvin Kiptum, in February 2024.
Kiptum, aged 24, died in a road crash on Sunday, February 11th,
alongside his coach Gervais Hakizimana.
The accident occurred when Kiptum lost control of his
vehicle, which veered off the road and struck a tree.
Both athletes died instantly, while a third passenger
survived with injuries.
The tragedy came just days after Kiptum’s marathon world
record of 2:00:35 was officially ratified, cutting short a career many believed
would break the two‑hour barrier at the 2024 Olympics.
In the aftermath, social media was flooded with unfounded
allegations linking Kipchoge to the young runner’s death.
Speaking on Engage Talk on You Tube aired
Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, Kipchoge revealed how the accusations
devastated him and his family.
“I was really down. Down on my knees. I spent 23 years
running; the guy had only spent three years. How on earth can I finish a small
boy?”
“I was threatened; my family was threatened,” he said.
Kipchoge disclosed that threats forced his family to alter
their routines, with his wife escorting their children to school for safety.
He added that the rumours changed how some people perceived
him in public, with individuals avoiding him due to the false narrative.
Despite the ordeal, Kipchoge expressed gratitude that his
children were shielded from the online storm, noting his daughter, then in Form
Four, was unaware of the controversy.
He credited his mother’s reassurance for helping him endure
the difficult period.
Kipchoge, a two‑time Olympic champion, held the marathon
world record from 2018 until it was broken by Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago
Marathon.
Watch the video>>> below
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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