World record holder Kenyan marathoner Agnes Tirop found dead at her home

Kenya’s world record holder Agnes Tirop has been found dead at her home. The two-times world championship bronze medallist represented Kenya in the 5,000m event at the Tokyo Olympics and finished fourth in the final after clocking 14:39.62. Last month, Tirop smashed the women-only 10km world record in Germany, crossing the line in 30:01.

Athletics Kenya said it was still working to uncover details of the incident but it had been informed of Tirop’s death. “Tirop was found dead at their home in Iten after she was allegedly stabbed by her husband. We are still working to unearth more details surrounding her demise,” Athletics Kenya said in a statement posted on Twitter. “Kenya has lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage, thanks to her eye-catching performances on the track.”

Kenyan president expresses grief on Agnes Tirop’s demise

Agnes Tirop had hogged the limelight when she won the world cross-country title in 2015 at the age of 19 to become the second-youngest champion ever. The 25-year-old had won bronze medals in the women’s 10,000 meters at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.

“It is even more painful that Agnes, a Kenyan hero by all measures, painfully lost her young life through a criminal act perpetuated by selfish and cowardly people,” Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement.

“I urge our law enforcement agencies led by the National Police Service to track down and apprehend the criminals responsible for the killing of Agnes.”

Tirop’s home town Iten, western Kenya, is renowned as a training base for distance runners. Kenyan media reported she was found with stab wounds in her abdomen, although police did not immediately give out any details other than to say they were investigating.

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