The world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya, who died in an automobile accident this month, will have his funeral on Friday, the nation's athletics federation announced.
Kiptum's unexpected passing, just months after breaking the world marathon record and before the Olympics in Paris, stunned the athletic community and his native nation.
"Kelvin will be laid to rest on Friday, February 23 2024, at his home in Chepkorio Village, Elgeyo Marakwet," Athletics Kenya said in a statement on Tuesday.
His burial was scheduled for February 24, and the government had promised the young marathon star a "heroic farewell" last week.
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The funeral will be a "state function" with President William Ruto in attendance, according to a Kenyan athletics official who spoke with AFP on Tuesday. Because of his schedule, the funeral was moved up one day.
Kiptum, a 24-year-old father of two, was killed on February 11 in a late-night car accident close to his Eldoret, the high-altitude training center in western Kenya's Rift Valley.
In the collision, his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, also lost his life, and a female passenger was hurt.
With just three marathons, the young athlete set three of the event's all-time fastest times.
In October, Kiptum broke the record set by Kenyan rival Eliud Kipchoge by 34 seconds, finishing the Chicago Marathon in two hours and 35 seconds.
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At the Paris Olympics, where he was expected to face off against Kipchoge for the first time, he was the clear favorite to win gold.
"The only way to honour my brother Kiptum is by winning the 2024 Olympic marathon and bringing the victory home," Kipchoge posted on X last week.
Kiptum was the most recent of several Kenyan athletes to pass away in recent years, and legislators have demanded increased assistance and safeguarding for the nation's athletes.
