Eliud Kipchoge Cries While Recounting How He Was Trolled Upon Kiptum’s Death
Eliud Kipchoge revealed that he is an innocent man who never had negative thoughts about the late marathoner Kelvin Kiptum.| Screengrab.
Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge is yet to heal from the social media troll he encountered after the death of marathoner Kelvin Kiptum. In an exclusive with BBC Sport, Kipchoge said some people threatened to torch down his properties and cut short the life of his family.
The award-winning long-distance athlete Eliud Kipchoge revealed that he is an innocent man who never had negative thoughts about the late marathoner Kelvin Kiptum.
According to Eliud Kipchoge, he was set to compete with Kelvin Kiptum in the world championship record that he had broken but suddenly, death took a toll on his home competitor.
However, following the death of Kelvin Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge said a section of social media users sent him threatening messages to end his life and that of his family members.
“I was shocked that people [on] social media platforms are saying ‘Eliud is involved in the death of this boy’. 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. That was the worst news ever in my life.” Kipchoge told BBC Sport Africa.
The 39-year-old athlete added that when he received such threatening information, he took cautious of his children and that of the school-going children as a security measure from any harm that could perhaps arise.
RELATED Eliud Kipchoge Speaks About Kelvin Kiptum’s Death Ahead Of 2024 Tokyo Marathon
“I got really scared of my children going to school and coming back…Sometimes they bike around…My girl was in boarding school – that was positive that she had no access as far as social media is concerned – but it’s tough for my boys to hear ‘Your dad has killed somebody’.” He recounted.
He added that the troll also made him lose about 90% of his friends and many people who were close to him in and outside the country.
“It was really painful for me to learn even from my people, my training mates, those who I have contact with, and the bad words are coming from them,” he added.
Kelvin Kiptum died in February 2024 in a tragic car accident that claimed his life and that of a friend, living behind one lady.
About The Author
