Samson Cheruiyot, the father of World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a tragic road accident on Sunday evening, has shared insights into his family following the loss of his son.

Mzee Cheruiyot revealed that they were blessed with only one child, the late World Marathon record holder, as his wife got sick and could not give birth to more children.

“He (Kiptum) was our only child. He leaves me, his mother, and his children behind. I don’t have any other child. His mother was sick for a while. I am deeply saddened,” Mzee Cheruiyot told Citizen Digital.

Kiptum was only 24 years old and had a promising career ahead of him. His father revealed that they last spoke on Saturday, and he assured him that he was on course to win more races and improve their lives.

According to Mzee Cheruiyot, the late athlete was focused on two major goals at the time of his death: building them a house and breaking the two-hour marathon barrier.

“He told me someone would come and help us build a house. He said that his body was now fit, and he could run for 1:59,” Mzee Cheruiyot recounted his last conversation with Kiptum.

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Kiptum died alongside his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, a Rwandan national, along the Eldoret-Kaptagat road a few days after World Athletics ratified his record of 2:00:35—a record he set at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023.

The 24-year-old chalked 34 seconds off the previous record of 2:01:09 set by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge on September 25, 2022, in Berlin.