World-renowned marathoner Eliud Kipchoge has endured a deeply unsettling experience due to the spread of false information on social media.
These fabricated claims reportedly link him to the tragic passing of fellow runner Kelvin Kiptum. In a BBC Sports interview, Kipchoge reveals that a barrage of online death threats targeted not just his career but also his family. He tears as he recounts the ordeal from his Eldoret residence. In the recent past, social media platforms were flooded with unfounded accusations that Kipchoge was somehow involved in Kiptum’s death.
This relentless online attack intensified, threatening his family’s safety, business ventures, and even his training grounds. His primary concern shifted to his loved ones prompting him to verify their well-being. Despite the immense emotional strain, Kipchoge vehemently denies the baseless allegations, saying “These claims have no merit, yet such is the nature of the online world,” he states.
The two-time Olympic champion discloses being forced to cancel family outings and relocate his training sessions as a precautionary measure. Shockingly, he even encountered negativity from some teammates further compounding his distress. Kipchoge says that he had to call his mother to seek solace and strength. The promising 24-year-old marathoner Kiptum lost his life in a road accident along the Eldoret-Kaptagat highway on February 12th.
This untimely demise occurred just two months before his planned attempt at breaking the sub-two-hour marathon record. Kiptum’s funeral was held on February 23rd in his village of Chepsamo, Elgeyo Marakwet County. A high-profile delegation including President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua paid their respects. The running community mourned the loss of a talented athlete while Kipchoge continued to grapple with the aftermath of the false accusations and online threats.
