Connect with us

Sports

Kenyan marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in car crash

Published

on

Tributes poured in on Monday for Kenyan running sensation Kelvin Kiptum after the marathon world record-holder was killed in a car crash at the age of 24.

The favourite for the Paris 2024 Olympics was driving from Kaptagat to Eldoret in the Rift Valley of western Kenya around 11:00 pm (2000 GMT) on Sunday when his car came off the road and hit a tree.

Father of two Kiptum and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana were killed while a woman passenger was seriously injured, police said.

“He lost control and veered off-road entering into a ditch on his left side. He drove in the ditch for about 60 metres before hitting a big tree,” said an official police report from Elgeyo Marakwet County where the accident occurred.

It said Kelvin Kiptum and Hakizimana died on the spot while the passenger Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Images on Kenyan media showed the mangled wreck of the vehicle, its windscreen shattered, the roof and doors buckled and almost ripped off.

Kiptum exploded onto the marathon scene when he ran a world record 2:00:35 in Chicago in October, taking 34 seconds off fellow Kenyan star Eliud Kipchoge’s previous record.

He was just 23 at the time, and competing in only his third marathon.

Kiptum also won his other two efforts — his debut in Valencia in 2022 and a follow-up in London the following year.

Kipchoge said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of the “rising star” who surpassed his record.

“An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness,” Kipchoge said in a statement on X.

Kenya’s President William Ruto described Kelvin Kiptum as “one of the world’s finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record”.

“An extraordinary sportsman has left an extraordinary mark in the globe,” he said on X.

From herding goats just a decade ago, Kiptum had announced he would attempt in April to become the first man to run an official marathon under the mythic two-hour mark.

World Athletics said his debut was the fastest in history and mourned the loss of “one of the most exciting new prospects to emerge in road running in recent years”.

Sports

Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley arrested by police

Published

on

By

United States Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley was tasered and arrested by police following a confrontation with officers in Miami, Florida.

The 29-year-old, who won 100m bronze at last summer’s Paris Games, faces charges of battery, resisting a police officer and breach of the peace following the incident on Thursday evening.

Officers were investigating another incident when Kerley approached them with an “aggressive demeanour” over concern about his car, according to a police report.

The report said Kerley “continued to resist officers and used evasive movements to avoid being arrested” before being wrestled to the ground by four officers.

Police bodycam footage shows Kerley getting back to his feet then being tasered and falling back to the floor before being taken into custody.

Local media in Miami reported, external that on Friday Kerley made an appearance in court and he has now been released on bail.

His lawyer said the incident had been a “total misunderstanding”.

As well as his bronze in Paris, Kerley also won 100m silver at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and gold at the 2022 World Championships.

He has also won world 4x100m and 4x400m gold medals, and has recorded the sixth-fastest 100m time in history with 9.76 seconds.

Continue Reading

Sports

Gift Orban joins Hoffenheim after one year at Olympique Lyon

Published

on

By

Gift Orban, former Super Eagles invitee, has completed a move to Germany’s Hoffenheim from Olympique Lyon.

The German Bundesliga side announced the 22-year-old centre forward’s signature in a post on their X handle.

Orban signed a four-year deal and will wear jersey number 14 at his new club.

The move ends Orban’s torrid one-year spell at Lyon, in which he featured in 21 matches, scoring only five times.

He has only played five times this season, playing three Ligue 1 and two Europa League games, respectively.

The pacey striker has not been included in nine of the last 10 league matches for Lyon. Orban’s previous league appearance was on September 22, while he last played in a match for the former French League champions in the Europa League, coincidentally against his new club. The game ended 2-2, with Orban lasting 62 minutes before substitution.

Orban, who scored 32 goals in 52 matches for Genk before his move to Lyon, posted on his X that he handled his excitement about swapping France for Germany. He described his new home as “wonderful.”

“New year, new adventures! Excited to be part of This Wonderful Club Hoffenheim,” said Orban.

Andreas Schicker, Hoffenheim’s sporting director, was also excited about the player’s joining the club and believed his attacking skills would improve the struggling side.

“In Gift Orban, we have found exactly the fast striker with good depth that we were looking for. He has proven time and time again his goalscoring talent and his enjoyment of playing.

“We are therefore confident that he will bring our team greater offensive variability thanks to his abilities.”

Continue Reading

Sports

AC Milan appoints Sergio Conceicao as new coach

Published

on

By

Sergio Conceicao was named the new coach of AC Milan replacing his fellow Portuguese Paulo Fonseca who was sacked earlier on Monday, the Serie A club announced.

“AC Milan announces that Sergio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceicao has been appointed as the Head Coach of the men’s first team until June 30, 2026,” Milan said in a statement.

Conceicao takes over a Milan side that lies eighth in Serie A, eight points off the Champions League places.

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...