Eliud Kipchoge, the renowned two-time Olympic champion in marathon running faced fake accusation that he was was behind the death of his fellow runner Kelvin Kiptum.
Kiptum, a promising talent and world record holder, tragically passed away at the age of 24.
However, amidst the grief and mourning, disturbing rumors began to circulate on social media platforms, falsely implicating Kipchoge in Kiptum’s demise.
Some individuals speculated that Kipchoge was involved in a conspiracy to kill Kiptum, tarnishing the reputation of the legendary athlete.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport Africa, Kipchoge revealed the profound impact of the online abuse on him and his family.
He recounted how he was shocked and dismayed to discover malicious accusations circulating on social media platforms, linking him to Kiptum’s death.
The false rumors not only targeted Kipchoge but also threatened his family’s safety and well-being.
“I received a lot of bad things; that they will burn the (training) camp, they will burn my investments in town, they will burn my house, they will burn my family,” Kipchoge lamented.
The gravity of the situation compelled Kipchoge to take immediate action to ensure the safety of his loved ones.
Despite feeling powerless to address the online abuse directly, Kipchoge prioritized the security of his family, urging them to exercise caution and vigilance amidst the escalating threats.
“I don’t have power to go to police and tell them my life is in danger. So my concern was actually to tell my family to be extra conscious and cautious,” he explained.
The relentless barrage of false accusations and threats took a toll on Kipchoge’s mental and emotional well-being. He spoke candidly about the fear and anxiety that gripped him, particularly regarding the safety of his children.
“I got really scared of my children going to school and coming back.
“Sometimes they bike around, but we had to stop them because you never know what will happen. We started to drop them [off] and pick them [up] in the evening.
“My girl was in boarding school – that was positive that she had no access as far as social media is concerned – but it’s tough for my boys to hear ‘Your dad has killed somebody’.”
Moreover, Kipchoge’s mother, residing in a rural area, was also affected by the online abuse.
“My worst moment was (when) I tried to call my mum,” he said.
“She told me ‘Just take care’ and ‘A lot has been going on’.
“Where I come from is a really local area. And with the age of my mum, I really realised that social media can go everywhere.
“But she gave me courage. It was really a tough month.”
However, Kipchoge, who became just the third person to win successive Olympic marathons when he defended his title in Tokyo in 2021, decided not to take precautions over his own safety.
“I saw no meaning to change training venues because my life is open,” he explained.
“Our sport is not training in the gym, it is going outside to run. I walk in the streets freely.”
Kipchoge claims he “lost about 90%” of his friends amid the wrongful link to Kiptum’s accident and online abuse.
