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      Olympics athletic event may never look the same with plans to trial radical new format

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      THE LONG jump competition will undergo a radical change – as athletes take a leap of faith into the future.World Athletics bosses are trialling a new format where long jumpers use a “take-off zone” rather than a take-off board.
      World Athletics chiefs are planning major changes in the long jump eventCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
      Trials will start taking place in the lower competitionsCredit: Getty
      Long jumpers will use a “take-off zone” rather than a take-off board.Credit: Getty
      Data collected during the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest showed that a THIRD of all attempts were recorded as no-jumps.
      The rule experiment will take place throughout this year in lower-level competitions and jumps will be measured from the front of the take-off foot within that zone.
      If the tests are successful – and if the competitors fully embrace and love the concept – then it could become permanent for the event from 2026 onwards.
      Jon Ridgeon, 57, a former British athlete and now CEO of World Athletics, said: “We’re looking at all of the disciplines, particularly the field events, and going: ‘Right, how do we make them better?’
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      “At the World Championships in Budapest last summer, a third of all the jumps were no-jumps where athletes stepped over the front of the take-off board.
      “Well, that doesn’t work. That’s a waste of time. So we’re testing at the moment a take-off zone rather than a take-off board.
      “We’ll measure from where the athlete takes off to where they land in the pit.
      “That means every single jump counts. It adds to the jeopardy and drama in the competition.
      Most read in Athletics
      “At the same time we’re working out ways we can get instant results so you don’t have to wait 20-30 seconds before the result pops up.
      “How can we speed up the whole competition? It’s a whole range of innovation we’re looking at based on hopefully robust data.”
      Abandoned stadium bigger that the Emirates left to rot just four years after club ‘offered Gareth Bale £1m per week’
      Britain have had three Olympic long jump champions – Mary Rand (1964), Lynn Davies (1964) and Greg Rutherford (2012).
      The men’s world record is 8.95 metres set by American Mike Powell in Tokyo in 1991 while the top women’s mark of 7.52 metres was established in 1988 by Russian Galina Chistyakova.
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      Ridgeon – who won 110 hurdles silver at the 1987 World Championships in Rome ahead of Colin Jackson – accepts that the traditionalists may not be happy.
      Especially as the event was part of the 1896 Olympics for the men while women starting jumping at the 1948 London Games.
      Speaking on the Great British Bosses series on the Anything but Footy podcast, he said: “We’ll spend this year testing it in real life circumstances with very good athletes.
      “If it doesn’t pass testing, we’ll never introduce it.
      Measures have to pass testing
      “So, we aren’t going to introduce things on a whim because one of us thinks it’s a good idea.
      “Yes, it’s going to be based on good data. Yes, we’re going to test it really well.
      “If you have dedicated your life to hitting that take-off board perfectly and then suddenly we replace it with a take-off zone, I totally get that there might be initial resistance.
      “As long as it is based on good testing and good data, I think eventually it’ll work through.
      “It will not be without its controversy. You cannot make change in a sport that was basically invented 150 years ago without some controversy. But I think it’s worth doing.
      “Ultimately this is about not this year, but making sure we have got a sport that is hopefully fit for purpose for another 150 years.”
      In the summer of 2026, World Athletics will introduce a new global competition that will run in the years where there are no World Championships or Olympic Games.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      This World Cup of Athletics will be staged with countries pitted against each other in semi-final and final stages. The host city will be announced this year.
      + Listen to the whole interview which is part of the Great British Bosses series on the Anything but Footy podcast More

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      Controversial British athletics icon Dwain Chambers to make shock return to competitive sprinting aged 45

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      DWAIN CHAMBERS will run in a competitive race at the age of 45, yet he should really forget all about winning!Despite his dodgy drugs past, UK Athletics are open to him working with and talking to the current generation about his chequered past and complicated history.
      Dwain Chambers is still competingCredit: PA
      He is unlikely to qualify for the World Indoor ChampionshipsCredit: PA
      In his pomp, Chambers was one of the best sprinters around, winning bronze at the 100 metres at world level in 1999 plus gold over 60 metres indoors in Doha 14 years ago.
      But infamously, he was caught up in the USA BALCO doping scandal – in 2003, he tested positive for a banned steroid, was suspended from the sport for two years and was stripped of some medals.
      Chambers probably should have retired by now and given up competition but he will be the oldest person in the field at the two-day UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham.
      UKA Olympic Head Coach Paula Dunn said: “The reality is he’s not going to qualify for the World Indoors with the standards.
      READ MORE SPORT NEWS
      “He enjoys his athletics. He’s qualified as right.
      “He’s doing great work down in Lee Valley with his academy. So like every other athlete, he can continue to race.
      “I don’t think he has aspirations, realistically, to go to the World Indoors (in Glasgow) but he’s running very well for somebody who’s in his mid-forties.
      “Some people enjoy keeping fit and competing. He obviously feels he has more to give.
      Most read in Athletics
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      “And like any athlete he feels he wants to reach his full potential at the age of 45.
      “As a sport, we’re inclusive. So, he’s welcome to do that.”
      British track sprinter Dwain Chambers races a HORSE ahead of Cheltenham
      It is ten years since he last ran in GB colours, notably finishing fourth in the 100 metres final at the European Championships in Zurich.
      That year, he also ran at the 2014 World Indoors in Sopot, Poland, but came sixth as Teesside Tornado Richard Kilty claimed the 60-metre title.
      Some will not forgive Chambers for his indiscretions and UKA policy prevents someone who has served a drugs ban from being employed as a national coach.
      Dunn would have no issue potentially bringing him into a UKA camp on a one-off basis, especially as he tried to redeem himself, teaching people about the pitfalls of cheating.
      She said: “Dwain has done lots of workshops telling youngsters about the dangers and how you have to say focused on what you are trying to achieve without taking shortcuts.
      “So for me, it’s a story of redemption. He got caught, he owned up to it and he has tried to make the best of a situation.
      “If he can educate people about the pitfalls, I think that’s a bonus.
      “Sometimes the best people to give the message is the person who has suffered through some consequences.
      “So it is not off the table but I haven’t actually thought about it. Long-term, it could be something that could be useful for the programme.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “As an adviser and as a speaker to athletes in the areas that he talks in at the moment then he could be useful.”
      Sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – who is Nitro in the BBC Gladiators reboot – has pulled out of the national trials. More

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      I’m Britain’s second fastest woman and a fashion model with Kate Moss’s ex-agency

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      FASHION-LOVING Daryll Neita shines on both the running track and the red carpet after being spotted by Kate Moss’s first modelling agency.Britain’s second-ever fastest woman can casually switch between spikes and stilettos and loves to wear high-end clothes outside of sweaty athletics kit.
      Daryll Neita lives and trains in Italy and recently attended a fashion show in MilanCredit: Instagram / daryllneita
      The British sprinter studied fashion at college and it is one of her hobbiesCredit: 2022 Franziska Krug
      Those who will follow her journey to the start line of the Paris 2024 Olympics should realise she has a real passion away from the day job of running in a straight line.
      Neita, who trains in Padua in Northern Italy, told SunSport: “I studied fashion at college. At the time people were so confused.
      “They were like: ‘Why aren’t you doing sports science?’ But that’s not my interest.
      “I might be good at sports and do it every day but when it comes to being creative or having an outlet, I’m interested in fashion. That has always been my thing.
      “I was signed to Storm Model Management. They’re pretty big. They actually scouted Kate Moss when she was younger.
      “During the off-season, I went to Milan Fashion week. I sat front row for the Missoni show.
      “I’m always doing bits and bobs in the fashion space – and I love it.
      “People always ask me what I’d do if I wasn’t in track and honestly it’d definitely be something in fashion. It’s the other side to me.”
      Most read in Athletics
      Athletes sometimes do ‘walk-ins’ before competitions to showcase their personalities and life outside of track-and-field.
      American Noah Lyles, the reigning 100 metres and 200 metres world champion, is someone who has brought style and fashion to the sport.
      British longer jumper Jazmin Sawyers is a creative soul and likes to design her own clothes ahead of meets.
      Neita, whose fashion idol is Naomi Campbell, said: “It’s important to feel good out there.
      “I don’t see why being a sporty person means you cannot also be cool or fashionable.
      “Yes, running fast is the main thing. But life is also about who you are as a person.
      “I feel people are tapping into their hobbies more and you’re probably seeing that with their fashion.
      “Noah is always dressed in something cool. Always doing the fashion walk-ins.
      “He does ask me sometimes: ‘Are you going to walk before the race?’ Honestly, I don’t think I’m there yet where I’m thinking about my pre-race outfit.
      “Maybe next season you’ll see me in a couple of looks before a race.”
      Neita – who finished fifth in the women’s 200 metres final at last year’s World Athletics Championships – has a PB of 10.90 seconds and 22.16 seconds for the two sprints.
      The Jamaicans and Americans rule the world over these disciplines but Neita, 27, hopes to be in the mix for the medals at this summer’s Olympics.
      Power and strength was built up over the winter in the gym and on the track.
      She has not long returned to Europe after a warm-weather training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa, which was funded by National Lottery money.
      Neita, 27, who opened her year over 60 metres in Paris last Sunday, added: “I’m on the World-Class Programme. I get supported with things like that training camp.
      “Without it, we would be training in the snow in the UK!

      “The funding helps us in so many different ways. Whether it’s medical or travel or assistance. Even for our mental health.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “I train with people from different nations and they don’t get anything from their federations. And yet they are individual medallists. We are very, very fortunate.”
      National Lottery players have transformed athletics in the UK with more than £300million invested since Lottery funding began. They support elite athletes to win medals on the world stage and have invested in clubs, facilities and programmes across the country to enable more people to take part in the sport. More

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      Who was Kelvin Kiptum’s coach Garvais Hakizimana?

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      KELVIN Kiptum of Kenya smashed the world record by 34 seconds when he won the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023.Here we take a look at the life and untimely death of the runner’s coach Garvais Hakizimana.
      Kelvin Kiptum and Gervais Hakizimana posing next to the clock marking Kiptum’s world record time at the the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023Credit: AFP
      Who was Kelvin Kiptum’s coach Garvais Hakizimana?
      Hakizimana, who hails from Rwanda, was a runner who first travelled to Kenya at the age of 18 in 2006 to train for the 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa.
      But just a few months later, when post-election violence erupted, he was forced to flee the country.
      According to the Marathon Handbook, Hakizimana met Kiptum while he was training in the town of Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya — Kiptum was among the hang-ons who used to join the Rwandese man whenever he was training. 
      We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais HakizimanaLord Sebastian Coe
      A decade ago, when Kiptum was barely a teen, he herded sheep and goats before he began following Hakizimana and other runners as they trained.
      READ MORE ON KEVIN KIPTUM
      Before becoming a coach, Hakizimana was an athlete who competed against then-world record holder Eliud Kipchoge in the 2016 London Marathon — with Kipchoge winning the race.
      What was Garvais Hakizimana’s cause of death?
      Both Hakizimana and Kiptum were tragically killed in a motoring accident in the town of Kapsabet, Western Kenya.
      Hakizimana was 36 years old at the time of his passing, while Kiptum was just 24.
      The London Marathon-winning long-distance runner and his coach lost their lives after Kiptum lost control of his vehicle, before landing in a ditch and colliding with a tree.
      Most read in Athletics
      According to reports a third passenger, Sharon Kosgey, was also in the car at the time of the collision.
      She survived the impact but suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Racecourse Hospital to receive medical attention.
      The crash happened at approximately 11pm (8pm GMT) on Sunday, February 11, 2024, Elgeyo Marakwet Police Cmdr Peter Mulinge told the Nation newspaper.
      How Kelvin Kiptum went from borrowing shoes to winning London MarathonKelvin Kiptum was renowned for being the only person in history to run the marathon in under two hours and one minute.
      But the Kenyan, 24, had to rise from the depths of poverty prior to his remarkable success.
      When he lined up for his first major local competition in 2018, Kiptum did so wearing borrowed running shoes because he could not afford a pair of his own.
      Kiptum began his career on the road, breaking away from the past tradition of athletes starting on the track before switching to longer distances.
      But that wasn’t out of choice.
      Kiptum claims he made the decision purely because of a lack of resources.
      “I had no money to travel to track sessions,” he explained to BBC Sport Africa.
      “My training place is far from a track, so I started training with road-running guys – and that’s how I got into marathon.”

      He added: “This was a self-involved accident where one Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, was driving his vehicle with two passengers.
      “Kiptum and Hakizimana died on the spot and the third person was rushed to Racecourse hospital in Eldoret.”
      What has been said about his death?
      President of World Athletics Lord Sebastian Coe released a statement reading: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
      “On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, team mates and the Kenyan nation.
      “It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon World Record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.
      “An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
      Former Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga paid tribute on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, world record holder and Kenyan athletics icon.
      “Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight.
      “My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity.
      Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      London Marathon organisers also honoured Garvais and Kelving, saying: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
      “The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with Kelvin’s and Gervais’ family and friends.”
      Why it took Kiptum 23 YEARS to agree to run a marathonKiptum may have been a world record holder and champion but it took a lot of convincing to get him to run in the first place.
      According to his coach Garvais Hakizimana – who died alongside him this week – Kiptum needed time to warm up to the idea of running a marathon.
      The Kenyan initially feared that it might be too tough.
      “He had some fear and preferred the shorter half-marathon until 2022 when he finally agreed to a marathon,” Hakizimana told BBC Sport Africa.
      Fast forward a few years and Kiptum would have 42km triumphs in Valencia, London and Chicago.
      But there were also other complications getting in the way of Kiptum fulfilling his potential.
      Kiptum had to convince his family that he could make it in athletics.
      His father had been adamant that he should go to college instead.
      “He wanted me to study to pursue my diploma to be an electrician but I was saying that I needed to be an athlete – I had that passion,” Kiptum recalled.
      “That period was very hard for me because I trained for four years, yet there were no successes and they were disappointed in me. But I kept on pushing.”
      Eventually his father came around, even occasionally helping him get to early morning training on time. More

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      How tragic Kelvin Kiptum went from having to borrow shoes to London Marathon record just a YEAR after first 26-mile race

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      KELVIN Kiptum, running legend, made incredible progress in his record-breaking athletics career before he died tragically aged just 24.Kiptum, who began running competitively in 2018, ran his first race in borrowed running shoes when he couldn’t afford to buy his own.
      Kelvin Kiptum was a record-breaking marathon runnerCredit: Splash
      The aftermath of Kiptum’s horror crash on Sunday eveningCredit: Reuters
      Kelvin Kiptum with his coach Rwandan Gervais Hakizimana – both men died in the crashCredit: AFP
      Kiptum attends the international elite men’s press conference in London on April 20, 2023 ahead of the London marathonCredit: AFP
      But just a few years later he had set an incredible Marathon record no one else has ever been able to achieve.
      Kiptum competed in his first Marathon in Valencia, in 2022.
      He became only the third man ever to break a record of two hours and two minutes, crossing the line in two hours and one minute, 53 seconds.
      Just a year later he won the London Marathon in April after two hours, one minute and 25 seconds.
      READ MORE SPORT
      And that October in the Chicago Marathon he finished in a truly incredible two hours and 35 seconds – becoming the only person to ever hit it in under two hours and one minute.
      He once told BBC Sport Africa: “It has been a long journey for me through my career.
      “I have been trying so hard to pursue this dream to run a world record.
      “It has come true and I am really happy. My life has now changed.”
      Most read in Athletics
      Early in his career, Kiptum didn’t have the money to travel to track sessions, and had to start training on the road.
      Most long distance runners train first during track sessions and work up to the road.
      He said in an interview: “My training place is far from a track, so I started training with road-running guys – and that’s how I got into marathon.”
      Kiptum also had to work hard to convince his family it was a career worth pursuing, before he ended up breaking international records.
      The athlete began running with a half-marathon at age 13, but it would be years before he started working with his coach in 2020 and entered the international stage.
      Horror car crash
      Tragically just days ago the athlete was involved in a horror car crash in Kenya with his coach, Garvais Hakizimana.
      Both men were killed, just days after Kiptum’s world-breaking records were ratified by World Athletics.
      And the incredible runner was in the midst of training for the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14.
      He had also been picked by Kenya to represent the country in this summer’s 2024 Olympics in Paris.
      Kenya’s former prime minister Raila Odinga confirmed Kiptum had died on X, writing: “Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon.
      “Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight.
      “My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity.
      “Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
      London Marathon organisers added: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
      “The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with Kelvin’s and Gervais’ family and friends.”
      World Athletics president Seb Coe said: “On behalf of all World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.
      “It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon World Record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.
      “An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
      Another passenger, a woman named as Sharon Kosgey, reportedly survived the crash and is in hospital with serious injuries.
      Local police said the accident happened on Sunday evening after Kiptum lost control of the car and veered off the road before landing in a ditch.
      Both men died instantly.
      Humble beginnings
      Kiptum’s coach Hakizimana also told the BBC about his amazing rise to success.
      He said: “I knew him when he was a little boy, herding livestock barefooted.
      “It was in 2009, I was training near his father’s farm, he’d come kicking at my heels and I would chase him away.
      “Now, I am grateful to him for his achievement.”
      Kiptum apparently needed lots of gentle coaching to come around to the idea of running a marathon – as he once feared it would be too difficult.
      His coach said: “He had some fear and preferred the shorter half-marathon until 2022 when he finally agreed to a marathon.”
      The Kenyan track star also had to convince his family about the career path he was considering – they wanted him to go to university.
      Kiptum opened up about his relationship with his dad in an interview and said: “He wanted me to study to pursue my diploma to be an electrician but I was saying that I needed to be an athlete – I had that passion.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “That period was very hard for me because I trained for four years, yet there were no successes and they were disappointed in me. But I kept on pushing.”
      But over the years his father warmed to the idea and ended up helping his son to keep up with training.
      Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum celebrates winning the 2023 Chicago MarathonCredit: AFP
      Kiptum ran the Chicago race in a world record time of two hours and 35 seconds on October 8, 2023Credit: AFP More

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      Brit Josh Kerr smashes Mo Farah’s two-mile world record just hours after being ‘spotted on metro to New York race’

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      JOSH KERR smashed a world record set by Sir Mo Farah after taking public transport to the race. The Scot beat the best ever two-mile indoor time at the Millrose Games in New York yesterday.
      Josh Kerr broke the indoor two mile world recordCredit: Getty
      Kerr was pictured on public transport just hours after smashing Mo Farah’s timeCredit: @ChrisChavez
      Sir Mo Farah’s record was beaten by just under three secondsCredit: Getty
      Kerr ran a time of eight minutes and 0.67 seconds.
      It was just under three seconds quicker than four-time Olympic gold medallist Farah’s world record of 8:03.40, which he set nine years ago.
      Kerr’s preparation for the race was unusual as he was spotted on the New York subway just hours before hitting the track.
      A snap of the 26-year-old sat on the train went viral, with fans saying: “Taking the subway to work like the rest of us. Man of the people.”
      READ MORE SPORT NEWS
      Another added: “Hope he went back in a stretch limousine after that brilliant performance.”
      A third commented: “What a legend.”
      Kerr was thrilled with his world record, saying: “I had to roll with the punches at the start of my career – pretty good but not world-class.
      “And then to be world-class and now world champion… I’m having fun with it, creating big goals to get myself out the door and prove I’m not all talk.”
      Most read in Athletics
      Kerr’s record is his latest achievement after winning gold in the 1500m at the World Championships last summer.
      He will be hoping to continue his success in the Paris Olympics later this year after earning a bronze in Tokyo in 2021.
      Forgotten Team GB star Dwain Chambers ‘to RETURN to athletics 20 YEARS after doping ban’ aged 45
      Elsewhere at the Millrose Games, there was more success for Brit athletes as Laura Muir set a new British indoor record.
      She ran a time of nine minutes and 4.84 seconds. More

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      Kelvin Kiptum dead: World record holder & London Marathon winner dies aged just 24 alongside his coach as world mourns

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      LONDON Marathon winner and world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has died aged just 24.The Kenyan long distance runner was killed alongside his coach Garvais Hakizimana in a car crash.
      Kelvin Kiptum crosses the finish line to win the Elite Men’s Marathon during the 2023 TCS London Marathon in April 2023Credit: Getty
      Kiptum with his coach Hakizimana, who also died in the smashCredit: AFP
      The Kenyan was selected to represent his country ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in ParisCredit: X/@RailaOdinga
      The Kenyan international poses alongside Sifan Hassan, winner of the Elite Women’s race, with the Chris Brasher Memorial Trophy last yearCredit: PA
      Kiptum won the London Marathon in April last year and broke the course record, crossing the line in two hours one minute and 25 seconds.
      Just months later he smashed the world marathon record in Chicago, completing the 26 mile race in just two hours and 35 seconds.
      International track federation World Athletics had only ratified his records last week.
      Kenya’s former prime minister Raila Odinga confirmed Kiptum had died on X, writing: “Devastating news as we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, Kelvin Kiptum, World Record holder and Kenyan athletics icon.
      “Together with his coach, they tragically passed on in an accident tonight.”
      “My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity.
      How Kelvin Kiptum went from borrowing shoes to winning London MarathonKelvin Kiptum was renowned for being the only person in history to run the marathon in under two hours and one minute.
      But the Kenyan, 24, had to rise from the depths of poverty prior to his remarkable success.
      When he lined up for his first major local competition in 2018, Kiptum did so wearing borrowed running shoes because he could not afford a pair of his own.
      Kiptum began his career on the road, breaking away from the past tradition of athletes starting on the track before switching to longer distances.
      But that wasn’t out of choice.
      Kiptum claims he made the decision purely because of a lack of resources.
      “I had no money to travel to track sessions,” he explained to BBC Sport Africa.
      “My training place is far from a track, so I started training with road-running guys – and that’s how I got into marathon.”

      “Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero.”
      The crash happened on a road in Western Kenya – a high-altitude area commonly used as a training base for long-distance athletes.
      Most read in Athletics
      Kiptum described his astonishing rise to success in an interview with the BBC last year.
      He ran his first major local competition in borrowed shoes, as he couldn’t afford a pair himself.
      Kiptum said: “It has been a long journey for me through my career.
      “I have been trying so hard to pursue this dream to run a world record.
      “It has come true and I am really happy. My life has now changed.”
      His coach Hakizimana – who also died in the smash – told of how he knew Kiptum from a young boy in the same interview.
      He said: “I knew him when he was a little boy, herding livestock barefooted.
      “It was in 2009, I was training near his father’s farm, he’d come kicking at my heels and I would chase him away.
      “Now, I am grateful to him for his achievement.”
      London Marathon organisers said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
      “The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with Kelvin’s and Gervais’ family and friends.”
      World Athletics president Seb Coe said: “On behalf of all World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.
      “It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon World Record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.
      “An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”
      Local reports state that a second passenger, a lady identified as Sharon Kosgey, was in the car at the time of the crash.
      She survived the impact but with serious injuries, and was rushed to Racecourse Hospital for medical attention.
      The bodies of Kiptum and Hakiziman were taken to the hospital’s mortuary.
      Elgeyo Marakwet Police Commander Petr Mulinge confirmed the accident took place at approximately 11pm (8pm GMT) on Sunday.
      According to Mulinge, Kiptum had lost control of the vehicle, veering off the road and landing in a ditch about 60 metres away before colliding with a tree.
      He added that Kiptum and Hakizimana “died on the spot”.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Kiptum was currently training to run just under two hours at the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14.
      He had also been selected by Kenya for this summer’s 2024 Olympics in Paris.
      Why it took Kiptum 23 YEARS to agree to run a marathonKiptum may have been a world record holder and champion but it took a lot of convincing to get him to run in the first place.
      According to his coach Garvais Hakizimana – who died alongside him this week – Kiptum needed time to warm up to the idea of running a marathon.
      The Kenyan initially feared that it might be too tough.
      “He had some fear and preferred the shorter half-marathon until 2022 when he finally agreed to a marathon,” Hakizimana told BBC Sport Africa.
      Fast forward a few years and Kiptum would have 42km triumphs in Valencia, London and Chicago.
      But there were also other complications getting in the way of Kiptum fulfilling his potential.
      Kiptum had to convince his family that he could make it in athletics.
      His father had been adamant that he should go to college instead.
      “He wanted me to study to pursue my diploma to be an electrician but I was saying that I needed to be an athlete – I had that passion,” Kiptum recalled.
      “That period was very hard for me because I trained for four years, yet there were no successes and they were disappointed in me. But I kept on pushing.”
      Eventually his father came around, even occasionally helping him get to early morning training on time.

      Kiptum poses as he celebrates winning the elite men’s race in just two hours and 35 secondsCredit: Reuters More

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      World’s sexiest athlete Alica Schmidt turned down ‘high six figures’ sponsorship deal despite earning £611 a month

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      THE world’s sexiest athlete Alica Schmidt claims she’s turned down a “six figure” sponsorship deal despite only earning around £600 a MONTH.Schmidt, 25, is one of Germany’s top sportspeople after becoming a popular track and field star.
      Alica Schmidt turned down a six-figure sponsorship deal despite only earning £611 a monthCredit: Instagram / @alicasmd
      She was part of the relay squad for the Olympic Games in Tokyo nearly four years ago.
      And Schmidt has acquired a cult following as a result, boasting 4.9million fans on Instagram and a further 2m on TikTok.
      But despite her popularity, she says she makes only £611 a month from sponsorship deals.
      That entire fee streams from a German sports foundation called Sporthilfe.
      READ MORE ON SPORT
      And they only pay Schmidt because she is on the national team.
      However, the fan favourite does earn income from her massive social media platforms.
      And as a result, Schmidt was able to turn down a huge sponsorship deal worth six figures as she felt “uncomfortable” with the brand.
      Schmidt told Bild: “Two months ago I received an offer from a well-known brand. But I wasn’t 100 per cent behind it.
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      “I didn’t feel comfortable with that. That would have been in the mid-to-high six figures for a campaign.
      “In principle, I have to say that it is not easy for most German track and field athletes to make a living from sport.
      Five celebs that could have been professional athletes including mega movie star and a member of the royal family
      “Of course there is money to be made from competitions. In most competitions you don’t make any money.
      “Personally, I couldn’t live on these amounts alone, because for many competitions you still have travel and hotel costs, which aren’t always covered.
      “Most of us study part-time in order to build up a second source of income, or even have mini jobs that we do on the side.”
      SEE MORE OF ALICA SCHMIDT’S GLAMOROUS LIFE…
      Schmidt is one of Germany’s top athletesCredit: Getty
      She competes in track and field for her countryCredit: Getty
      Schmidt was part of the relay squad for the Tokyo Olympic GamesCredit: Reuters
      Schmidt has acquired a cult following online
      She has nearly five million Instagram followers
      Schmidt also has two millions fans on TikTok
      The German is very particular about working with brands More