Kelvin Kiptum has tragically passed away aged 24.
Kiptum, a world marathon record holder and the winner of last year's prestigious London Marathon, and his coach have both passed away after being involved in a car crash as per Sky News.
Kenyan runner Milcah Chemos also confirmed the news as she went to the hospital where the bodies were taken for examination.
Chemos also confirmed that the accident occurred on a road between two towns in western Kenya, she said, in a high-altitude region renowned as a training base for long-distance runners.
Tributes have been pouring in ever since the news was announced, with Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga taking to X (formerly Twitter) to lead the honors.
"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," he wrote in a tweet. My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends, and the entire athletics fraternity.
"Our nation grieves the profound loss of a true hero," Odinga added alongside a photo of the star athlete.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe also tweeted about the devastating loss, describing Kiptum as an "incredible athlete."
"We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana," he said.
"On behalf of all World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation," he continued before adding: "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," Coe concluded.
British long-distance runner and former world record holder for the two-mile indoor race Sir Mo Farah also took to X to honor the late star.
"I’m so sad to hear the passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana," he wrote in a post on the social media platform. "Kelvin was an amazingly talented athlete and had already achieved so much. He truly had a special talent and I have no doubt he would have gone on to have had an incredible career.
"I send all my sympathies and condolences to his and Gervais’ family and friends at this tragic time," Farah added.
Kiptum was honored at the the Chicago Marathon last year after running the race in two hours and 35 seconds, beating the men's world record which was set by a fellow Kenyan athlete, Eliud Kipchoge.
His record was approved by the international track federation World Athletics just last week, before the tragic accident took place last night (February 11).
Our thoughts and prayers are with Kiptum's loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.