Pictures: Tears & tributes flow as Kenya bid farewell to world record holder Kiptum

Kenya government, World Athletics excectives, athletes, friends and family paid their final respect to late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum in Kenya on Friday.

Kiptum who died alongside his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana in a car accident on February 11, was buried in his hometown, Chepkorio in Western Kenya.

Dignitaries who attended Friday’s funeral include Kenya President, William Ruto and World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe while 2022 London Marathon winner, Amos Kipruto was among the pall bearers.

Also in attendance were record-holder Faith Kipyegon and two-time 800m Olympics champion David Rudisha who paid their tribute near Kiptum’s casket.

People gather on a hill while attending the funeral proceedings of the late marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum in Chepkorio on February 23, 2024.

A woman wrapped with the national flag of Kenya pays her respect in front of a photo of late Kenyan marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum during a candle light vigil in Nairobi, on February 22, 2024.

Kiptum at 24, ran three of the fastest seven marathons in less than a year.

On his marathon debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, he recorded the fastest time for a debutant (2:02:00) and followed it up with the second-fastest time in marathon history at the 2023 London Marathon (2:01:25) before setting a new world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon in October (2 hours and 35 seconds).

President of Kenya William Ruto approaches the coffin of Kelvin Kiptum while attending the funeral proceedings of the late marathon runner in Chepkorio on February 23, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan government has donated 5 million Kenyan shillings (£26,964) to the family of Kiptum’s coach who was buried on Wednesday.

President of the International Athletics Federation Sebastian Coe (2nd R) looks on while attending the funeral proceedings of the late marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum in Chepkorio on February 23, 2024.