The world marks the first anniversary of Kelvin Kiptum’s death on Tuesday but for his parents, it is a painful reminder of how unbearable life has been since their son passed away.
On the morning of February 11, 2024, Kenya was thrown into mourning following news that world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum had passed away.
It was news that not only shocked Kenya but the world at large as Kiptum had just set the world marathon record in Chicago four months earlier and it was the week after his record had been ratified.
Kiptum was a generational talent who had already made history in less than one year, having set incredible times in the three marathons he featured in between December 2022 and October 2023.
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At just 24, he had set the marathon world record in Chicago in October 2023, running 2:00:35, the first man to ran a sub-2:01 marathon, that coming after winning the London Marathon in 2:01:25, the second fastest in history at the time, and on his debut in Valencia in December 2022, he ran 2:01:53, the fourth fastest of all-time then.
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However, on the morning of February 11, 2024, death struck as Kiptum was involved in a road accident that killed him and his coach Gervais Hakizimana.
Mzee Cheruiyot still hurting from son’s death
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Kelvin Kiptum’s parents are still in distress since his death on February 11, 2024.
The marathoner was preparing for the Rotterdam Marathon at the time, just two months away, when he had set his eyes on becoming the first man to run an official marathon under two hours, and Team Kenya were also sure of retaining their Olympics marathon gold through him in Paris later that year.
However, all these went up in smoke when the cruel hand of death struck, claiming the father of two and while the world has since moved on, his family has not.
Kelvin Kiptum’s father Samson Cheruiyot is still not just hurting from his son’s death but is also saddened that he is living like a pauper when his son was a millionaire.
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The 40-year-old will be aiming for a fifth title in London but faces a formidable test from younger marathoners who are out to upstage him.
Mzee Cheruiyot claims that Kiptum’s management company Golazo, through his agent Mark Corstjens, have withheld the late athlete’s millions, denying his parents an opportunity to live a decent life.
“There is nothing they have done. If you see the kitchen, you’d be surprised. I even prayed and told Kiptum in his grave if he were to wake up and see what was happening to us, it would be a shock to him,” Cheruiyot told TUKO.
Where did Kiptum’s money go?
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Kelvin Kiptum set the world marathon record in Chicago in 2023. Photo/Imago
“The rain has destroyed our kitchen. The rain carries all our sufurias. We have been troubled, and we have decided to leave it to God. We do not have furniture. Milk spoils most of the time since we do not have a fridge,” he said.
Cheruiyot says their late son was the family’s sole breadwinner and when he died, they thought his earnings would trickle down to them but he claims Corstjens is only helping Kiptum’s widow Asenath Cheruto Rotich and her two children.
“We do not have a single cent. Ever since he died, we have not received any money. When he was alive, he paid for a one-year health insurance for us. When we fall sick, I do not know how we are going to handle that,” he went on.
“We are at the hands of God. The insurance expired in December. We wanted Marc Corstjens to help us with our health insurance. At some point, we do not even want the money. He is taking care of the widow Asenath only. Us, the parents, we are left in the dark. I’ll talk with my son in his grave.”
Kiptum’s parents claim they do not even have furniture in their house and life has become unbearable although a borehole has since been dug for them which provides endless water supply.
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Kiptum’s agent refutes father’s claims
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The late Kelvin Kiptum is the marathon world record holder. Photo/Imago
Corstjens has, however, refuted claims that he abandoned Kiptum’s parents, saying the management firm opened the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation to help his family, including his parents, but there are steps to it.
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The 35-year-old is currently training in Kenya after returning from the US and has revealed one of the main reasons for her decision to come back home.
“Kelvin was a very good person and athlete. He was an exceptional man, a once in a lifetime type of person. A good friend I lost. The goal is to make sure everything needs to go the way it is supposed to be,” said Corstjens.
“On his finances, we created a foundation to help people from his family. Golazo would love to make sure that his plans and dreams come true and even more important his family, his widow and kids have a bright future to maintain their needs in the long term. They are all trustees.
“No one can benefit more than the other. We are working with Kiptum’s dad. We would like to explore where he needs help and move forward with his projects. There is money set aside for him to work on the first project,” he added.
As the athletics world marks one year since the death of the world marathon record holder, for his parents, it is another painful reminder of how their lives would have been had he still been alive.
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