Kenya’s world champion hurdler Nicholas Bett tragically died on Wednesday.
Bett passed away just a day after returning home from the Continental Championships in Nigeria.
The news of his death has left the athletics world reeling.
Track and field’s world governing body, the IAAF, said it was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the news of the father of two’s death.
Barnabas Korir, an official with Athletics Kenya (AK), said: “It is very sad because I talked to him yesterday. He had gone to Nairobi Hospital to see a doctor because of the injury he picked up in Asaba.
“This morning we got the reports (of his death) and, as AK, we are saddened beyond words.”
Nicholas Bett car after it veered off the road and rolled into the ditch. Photo: Courtesy
Kenyan Sports Minister Rashid Echesa added: “On behalf of the sporting fraternity and moscakenya I convey my sincerest condolences to his family. Rest in peace.”
How did Nicholas Bett die?
The Kenyan athlete was killed in a car crash.
The incident occurred after the car he was driving veered off the road and landed in a ditch.
Police commander Patrick Wambani confirmed that Bett hit a bump before losing control of his car.
Where did the incident occur?
Bett was killed while travelling in Lessos, Nandi, in his home country of Kenya.
He is understood to have died at the scene.
How old was Nicholas Bett and why was he a history-maker?
Bett was just 28 years old.
The 400 metre hurdler made history at the 2015 world championships in Beijing by winning the gold medal
In doing so, he became the first Kenyan to win a gold medal in a short distance race on the world stage. He ran a personal best of 47.79 seconds to claim victory in the Bird’s Nest.
He did not qualify for the final at the Olympic Games in Rio the following year, after being disqualified in his heat for hitting a hurdle. He had been expected to place among the medalists.
Unfortunately, he was unable to defend his world title in London in 2017 due to injury, one of a number he suffered in recent years; in last week’s African Athletics Championships he was forced to pull out of his race due to another.
Nevertheless, he was a two-time African Championship medallist.
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