Tragedy Strikes Kenyan Athletics Again as Charles Kipsang Dies Shortly After Completing Cameroon Mountain Race

Tragedy has once again knocked on the door of Kenyan athletics. On Saturday 24 February 2024, distance runner Charles Kipsang suddenly collapsed and died at Molyko Stadium in Buea, capital of the Southwest Region, after crossing the finishing line during the Cameroon Mountain Race of Hope. The cause of Kipsang's death is unknown.

33-year-old Kipsang vanished from contention in the 39-kilometre race right on the verge of the finish line. The race was won by Cameroonian-born Elvis Nsabinla.

Addressing the media, Southwest Region governor Bernard Okalia Bilai confirmed Kipsang's demise, saying the Kenyan athlete was leading the race, but started falling back towards the end. "We cannot say exactly what happened. But he was good, he was fine after the race,” Bilai said. "He developed a malaise and stopped during the race for some time," he added. "He was asked to get into the ambulance, but he took some soda and continued the race." Kipsang was called to the dias to receive his award, at which point he collapsed, and was pronounced dead at at a local hospital.

In a bizarre twist of fate, Kipsang, who finished sixth in the 2020 edition of the race, died on the very day of the burial of the world-renowned Kelvin Kiptum, who perished barely three weeks erstwhile in a freak road accident alongside his coach.