Kelvin Kiptum was a Kenyan long-distance runner and a Nike ambassador athlete. Last October 2023, he shattered the Chicago Marathon course record and became the new Marathon World Record holder in only his third marathon, and the only person in history to run the marathon in less than two hours and one minute in a record-eligible race.

Tragically, he was killed in a car accident with his coach, Rwanda’s Gervais Hakizimana, in western Kenya on February 11.

Not only was Kiptum a member of the Nike family, he was “an inspiration to countless athletes and fans around the world,” said Nike in a media statement. “While he was just getting started, Kelvin’s impact on the sport of running will forever be remembered.”

Image courtesy Nike