Here is all you need to know about Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat and his age and cause of death who reportedly got stabbed to death
Three-time Olympian from Uganda Benjamin Kiplagat’s body was discovered with stab wounds inside his brother’s car on Sunday morning, and police in Kenya are looking into his death, a local official said, according to ESPN India.
Who was Uganda runner Benjamin Kiplagat stabbed to death, cause of death, obituary, bio, age and family
This is the Benjamin Kiplagat story in pictures
How it happened pic.twitter.com/0rvwKooBNz
— Goddie (@Goddie_Ke) January 1, 2024
The last moments of Benjamin Kiplagat via @SaddiqueShaban pic.twitter.com/6GxJdgtgS7
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) January 1, 2024
The police is currently investigating the matter. Stephen Okal, the local police chief, told reporters in Eldoret on Sunday:
investigation has been launched and officers are on the ground pursuing leads.”
He claimed that a serious knife wound on Kiplagat’s neck indicated that he had likely been stabbed. On their X (formerly known as Twitter) account, the world athletics governing body stated that they were “shocked” by the news. They said in a statement:
World Athletics is shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Benjamin Kiplagat.
Further was said:
We send our deepest condolences to his friends, family, teammates and fellow athletes. Our thoughts are with them all at this difficult time.”
World Athletics is shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Benjamin Kiplagat. We send our deepest condolences to his friends, family, teammates and fellow athletes. Our thoughts are with them all at this difficult time. https://t.co/x74j5xRvex pic.twitter.com/XvW8k5Gwss
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 31, 2023
Who was Benjamin Kiplagat?
Benjamin Kiplagat was a Ugandan long-distance runner who specialised in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He was born on April 4, 1989 in Magoro, Uganda.
A look at Benjamin Kiplagat’s career
According to media sources, before travelling to Uganda to compete in athletics, Kiplagat had been training in the Eldoret region. Kiplagat, who ran for almost eighteen years, took home silver at the 2008 World Junior Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and bronze at the 2012 Africa Championships. He competed in Rio in 2016 and reached the semi-finals of the event in the London Olympics of 2012.
Kiplagat started running after fellow villager Boniface Kiprop’s victory in the 2004 World Junior Championships inspired him. He started off competing in the 10,000 metres, but he changed to the 1500 and 5000 metres after his coach advised him to do so.
At the Ugandan Junior Cross Country Championships, Kiplagat finished sixth, earning him a spot in the 2006 World Cross Country Championships. It was his first time appearing on the global scene. He qualified for the World Junior Championships in that same year as well.
Here are some of the personal best records by him:
- 1500 m – 3:38.86 (Nijmegen 2009)
- 3000 m – 7:46.50 (Dakar 2010)
- 5000 m – 13:22.67 (Kassel 2007)
- 10,000 m – 29:03.1 (Bugembe 2006)
- 2000 m st – 5:41.1 (Nairobi 2005)
- 3000 m st – 8:03.81 (Lausanne 2010)
Benjamin Kiplagat’s cause of death
On December 31 in Eldoret, Kenya, 2023, 34-year-old Kiplagat, was fatally stabbed by an unidentified assailant(s) while operating his brother’s vehicle close to Eldoret, Kenya. The incident is still been investigated by the police.