Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum, 24, the men's marathon world record holder, died in a road accident in his home country.
He and his coach, Rwanda's Gervais Hakizimana, were killed in a car accident on a route in western Kenya on Sunday at 23:00 local time.
Kiptum made a breakthrough in 2023 as a competitor to compatriot Eliud Kipchoge, one of the finest marathon runners.
Kiptum surpassed Kipchoge's record in Chicago last October, covering 26.1 miles (42 kilometers) in two hours and 35 seconds.
The two competitors were nominated to Kenya's provisional marathon team for the Paris Olympics later this year.
According to authorities, the crash happened when Kiptum was driving, when a truck "lost control and rolled, killing the two on the spot."
According to police, the third passenger, a female, was hurt and "rushed to hospital".
Just last week, his team revealed that he would try to run the Rotterdam marathon in under two hours, a feat that has never been accomplished in open competition.
The father of two rose to prominence quickly, having only completed his first full marathon in 2022.
He competed in his first major competition four years ago, wearing borrowed shoes because he could not afford his own.
He was part of a new generation of Kenyan athletes that began their careers on the road, breaking away from the previous custom of starting on the track and progressing to longer distances.
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Kenya: Marathon world record holder dies in a road accident
