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Widow of Coach Gervais Hakizimana shares touching insights into their shared dreams and plans before the tragic accident took their lives.
As the athletics world mourns the tragic loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana, the latter's widow, Joan Chelimo, has opened up about the dreams and aspirations her husband harbored not only for his protégé but for their family and the future of athletics.
In an outpouring of grief and remembrance, Chelimo shared the poignant last moments and the grand plans that were in the works before the fatal accident that claimed their lives.
"Hakizimana was more than a coach; he was a visionary," Chelimo recounts, her voice a mixture of pride and sorrow.
"Staying back in Kenya instead of moving to France as we had planned, he dedicated himself to Kiptum and other athletes, believing in their potential to redefine marathon running."
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07:30 - 14.02.2024
ATHLETICS Striking similarities between Kelvin Kiptum & Samuel Wanjiru who both died in tragic fashion
Pulse Sports explains how the careers of marathon sensations Kelvin Kiptum and Samuel Wanjiru followed the same path before they met their death in tragic fashion.
The duo's relationship transcended the typical boundaries of coach and athlete.
It was a partnership built on mutual respect, ambition, and a shared dream that seemed almost within their grasp—the breaking of the two-hour barrier in an official marathon race. "They were so close," Chelimo said.
"Whenever he was at home, Kiptum was a constant presence, even if just over the phone. They were united in their goal, pushing each other towards what would have been a historic achievement."
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22:15 - 13.02.2024
ATHLETICS Kelvin Kiptum: Unfulfilled marathon promise cut short by tragic loss
Kelvin Kiptum's death has left the whole world in utter shock and sadly, whatever was left of his extraordinary potential will now never be realised.
Chelimo's revelations paint a picture of Hakizimana as a man deeply committed to his family and his athletes.
"He had so many plans for us and for the world of athletics. He wanted to build a camp in Chepkoilel to leave a lasting legacy," she shared.
This camp was to be more than just a training facility; it was to be a cradle for future champions, a place where the next generation could dream big and achieve bigger.
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19:26 - 13.02.2024
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Kiptum's journey from half-marathon runner to world record holder in the full marathon is a testament to Hakizimana's coaching prowess and their shared dedication.
Starting with a historic debut marathon in Valencia in 2022, where Kiptum ran the fastest debut marathon in history, to breaking the world record in Chicago, their journey was nothing short of inspirational.
The duo's strategy of staying with the leading pack before making a decisive move was not just a race tactic; it was symbolic of their approach to life—patient, strategic, and daring.
Kiptum's dream of breaking the two-hour mark in the marathon embodied the ultimate challenge, one that he and Hakizimana were passionately pursuing together.
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