The rise of marathon running's new superstar Kiptum

When Kelvin Kiptum took to the streets of Chicago on Sunday, the world held its collective breath as the Kenyan tore through its marathon course.

Much of the pre-race build up had centered on a possible world record attempt and rightly so with Kiptum having missed the mark by just 16 seconds some five prior in London.

For a man just 23 years old and racing in only his third marathon, Kiptum ran with masterful poise; he was bold and aggressive. Yet cool and composed.

“Coming to this race my target is to break the course record which would mean a lot to me.” Kiptum told journalists at the pre-race press conference.

He did more than just that in the end, clocking a staggering 2:00:35 to smash the previous mark by over half a minute.

As the world continues to celebrate this remarkable feat and as marathon running ushers a new superstar, what many may not know is that the man may have been an electrician had factors led him on another path.

According to his uncle Philip Kiplagat, Kiptum studied to be an electrician at the Chepkorio Polytechnic but failed to further his studies irresistible love for athletics pulled him to the roads.

“He got his Grade One certificate at the Chepkorio Polytechnic and was set to further his studies at the Eldoret National Polytechnic but his love for athletics developed as he saw athletes training in the neighbourhood,” Kiplagat narrated.

Kiplagat said Kiptum’s early career was characterized by many challenges that the family cannot comprehend of how he managed to defy the odds to rise to stardom.

“We thought he was joking because we knew he would go nowhere. He didn’t even have training shoes but he pressed on with training and after some time he started competing in half marathon races. When he started by winning the Family Bank Half Marathon that is when we realised that he had potential and we started supporting him and here he is a world record holder,” said Kiplagat.

Rwandese coach

Among the people who shaped Kiptum’s career is a former Rwandese athlete turned coach - Gervais Hakizimana - who trained in Chepkorio, Elgeyo Marakwet.

“We met with Kiptum around 2009 when I was training on his father’s land and then he was still young. In 2015 when he had started training he approached me and by then I had started coaching some French nationalist and I agreed to help him.”

Hakizimana said Kiptum has been cautious on his progression in the marathon.

He could have made his marathon debut in 2020 but we had then we had the coronavirus pandemic. The following year he felt he was not yet ready but in 2022 he said he was ready for the full marathon and that is when he raced and won in Valencia,” Hakizimana said.

Sub two-hour marathon

Even before the dust settles on his new world record, attention has quickly shifted to a sub two-hour marathon with many athletics faithful tipping him to break the barrier in a competitive event.

Kiptum who became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours and one minute is not ruling out any possibility.

“I think it (sub two-hour) is possible if you have good preparations. At the moment I have however not yet thought about it,” the soft-spoken athlete said.

With just over 10 months until the Paris Olympics, Kiptum said though he is yet to discuss next year’s program with his management, he is willing to compete at the Summer Games.

“For the Olympics if I get a chance, I will of course represent my country,” he said.

Following his record-breaking heroics, Kiptum was awarded Ksh 1 million by the government.

“We started this program with Faith Kipyegon and now Kiptum becomes the second athlete to receive this amount. As a ministry we want our athletes to wear the Kenyan colours and this is part of the motivation,”