Athlete Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with a stab wound to the chest

The world of athletics will say goodbye to 2023 with sad news. The Ugandan Benjamin Kiplagat, a specialist in 3,000 meters steeplechase and three-time Olympian, was found dead in Kenya, as confirmed by local police. The media in that country claim that he was murdered.

According to the Kenyan press, Kiplagat was found in a car owned by his brother, on a route that connects Kimunucity in which he resided, and Eldore, a town known for being a training center for the best distance runners in the world. He had stab wounds to his neck and chest, consistent with a stabbing death.

“We are still investigating the incident to determine what really happened. An investigation has been opened and clues are being sought,” he simply said. Stephen Okalpolice spokesperson.

According to the report from that security force, neighbors reported that a vehicle had been in an accident and agents from that security force arrived at the scene around 5 in the morning. Inside the car, they found a body that had been stabbed in the chest. and had a deep cut on his neck.

Born 34 years ago in Magoro, a small city located about 370 kilometers northeast of Kampala, capital of Uganda, Kiplagat began athletics in the 10-meter event, but shortly after, on the advice of his coach, he began to focus on shorter distances (between 1,500 and 5 thousand meters).

He had an outstanding youth career. He set several national records and won, for example, silver in the 3,000 hurdles. Junior World Cup in BydgoszczPoland, in 2008.

His first years in the senior category were marked by some health problems. In 2009, for example, he had his season cut short by malaria and typhoid fever. And the following year, he suffered again with malaria and a boil on his leg, which delayed his explosion.

Kiplagat made his Olympic debut in Beijing 2008, where he finished ninth in the steeplechase, which became his specialty. In that event, he later competed in the World Championships. Berlin 2009 (11°), Daegu 2011 (10°), Moscow 2013 (14°), Beijing 2015 (31°) y Doha 2019 (18°). Also in the London Games 2012 -he reached the final, in which he was disqualified, although he had his best performance in an event of that level- and Rio de Janeiro 2016 (19th). And he got bronze in the 2012 African Championships.

“World Athletics is shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Benjamin Kiplagat. We send our deepest condolences to his friends, family, colleagues and fellow athletes. Our thoughts are with all of them at this difficult time,” the international athletics federation wrote in a message that he spread on social networks.

The news shook that area of ​​Kenya again two years after the murder of the local athlete Agnes Tiropworld record holder of 10 kilometers on the road and specialist in the 5 thousand meters, who died in October 2021 at the age of 25.

The Kenyan police found Tirop’s lifeless body after being stabbed inside her house, in Iten, 36 kilometers from Eldoret.

Ibrahim Rotich, Tirop’s husband, was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty. He was released on bail last November, after two years in preventive detention and awaiting the start of the trial.