Police in Kenya are they are on the hunt for the husband of one of country’s fast-rising athletes, Agnes Tirop, who was found dead in her home.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for speedy investigations into the murder and bring to book her killers.
She represented Kenya in the 5 000m race at the Tokyo Olympics and finished fourth in the finals.
Police told local media in Kenya that her husband had phoned her parents while crying asking God to forgive him for something bad that he had done.
At her home, police found her on her bed with a stab wound on the neck.
Athletics Kenya in a statement said they were distraught to learn of the death of the decorated athlete whom they described as a Jewel.
Just last month, Tirop broke the women-only record in the women’s 10km at Road to Records Race in Germany, while last week she finished second at the women’s half marathon in Valencia.
She won bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 in 10,000M at World Athletics championships.
President Kenyatta while mourning Tirop regretted that the rising athlete lost her life through a criminal act. He termed her killers as cowards.
Twitter reaction:
HEARTBREAKING! ??
Kenyan athlete Agnes Jebet Tirop, who represented Kenya ?? at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the 5000m, has been found dead in her house with stab wounds to her abdomen.
She was just 10 days away from her 26th birthday. Rest in peace Queen! pic.twitter.com/dbqACcTUG6
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) October 13, 2021
The adidas family is deeply saddened by the tragic news about Agnes Jebet Tirop.
Agnes was an incredible person, a record breaking athlete and a beloved member of our family.
She will be greatly missed by us all and her legacy will forever live on in our memory. #AgnesTirop pic.twitter.com/VXZQhdw6HL
— adidas Running (@adidasrunning) October 13, 2021
World Athletics is deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely death of Kenya’s Agnes Tirop ?? at the age of 25.
The 2015 world cross-country champion and two-time world medallist had broken the women-only world record for 10km last month ?
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 13, 2021
Sigh. ?
Rest in peace Agnes Tirop. pic.twitter.com/9OW7wYxz9b— Tugen Girl (@tugengirl) October 13, 2021
