sport news Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge reveals he and his family received ... trends now
Eliud Kipchoge has revealed that he and his family were subject to death threats in the wake of the death of fellow Kenyan marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum in February.
World record holder Kiptum died in a car crash just five days after World Athletics ratified his history-making time of two hours and 35 seconds, recorded with his victory in 2023's Chicago Marathon, but a question mark has lingered over the crash's circumstances.
The 24-year-old's father Samson Cheruiyot called for an investigation into the accident shortly after, sharing that four strangers visited his house in the days before Kiptum's death - with the men later arrested.
Kipchoge however became inadvertently involved in the tragedy when unfounded speculation linked the two-time Olympic champion to his compatriot's death.
Users on social media amplified conspiracy theories that Kipchoge had ties to the crash which killed his rival, with Kipchoge's record the one Kiptum had beaten.
Eliud Kipchoge (pictured) has revealed the painful period he suffered personally in the wake of Kelvin Kiptum's tragic death
World record holder died in February just five days after his history-making time was ratified
Colleagues and fans across the globe paid tribute to the 24-year-old after his fatal crash
Describing the events that followed to BBC Sport Africa, Kipchoge called the links 'the worst news ever in my life'.
'I was shocked that people (on) social media platforms are saying 'Eliud is involved in the death of this boy',' the 39-year-old began.
'That was my worst news ever in my life.
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Kelvin Kiptum's cause of death revealed after marathon world record holder died aged at 24, before police arrested four strangers who visited his home
'I received a lot of bad things; that they will burn the (training) camp, they will burn my investments in town, they will burn my house, they will burn my family.
'It did not happen but that is how the world is.'
Stressing that he did not 'have power to go to the police', Kipchoge asked his family to be 'extra conscious and cautious' in the wake of the threats.
'I started to call a lot of people,' he continued. 'I got really scared of my children going to school and coming back.
'Sometimes they bike around, but we had to stop them because you never know what will happen. We started to drop them (off) and pick them (up)
