Kenya’s world record holder Agnes Tirop, two-times a world championship bronze medalist, has been found dead at her home. The 25-year-old distance runner represented Kenya in the 5,000m event at the Tokyo Olympics and finished fourth in the final after clocking 14:39.62. The country’s athletic body said in a statement on Wednesday said Kenya has lost a jewel. They added that they are still investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, with crime scene investigators at her house on Wednesday. “Athletics Kenya are this afternoon distraught to learn about the untimely death of World 10,000m bronze medalist Agnes Tirop.” “We are still working to unearth more details surrounding her demise. 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.”
It was gathered that Tirop was found with stab wounds to her stomach and neck.
Tirop began her career as a junior athlete in 2011, winning two bronze medals in the 5,000m at that year’s world junior championships.
Four years later, during a rapid ascent, she won the senior World Cross Country championships in China, becoming the second youngest medalist at that level.
A 10,000m bronze medallist at both the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, Tirop, in September, set a time of 30 minutes and one second in Herzogenaurach, Germany, as she took 28 seconds off the old 10km road race record set in 2002.
Kirop smashed the 10km women-only world record last month.
