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Kelvin Kiptum and Florence Griffith-Joyner are among the stars who were forced to end their careers too soon, leaving the world to wonder what more they could have achieved.
Track and field has been a cornerstone of human competition for centuries, giving athletes a platform to showcase their speed, talent and endurance.
The sport has surely evolved over the years and managed to give fans unforgettable moments but some experiences have left them with the tantalizing question, ‘What if?’.
Some scenarios are believed to have rewritten history if some changes happened and, in this article, Pulse Sports Kenya delves into some of the most compelling stories in track and field and examines what could have happened.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Athletics News in Kenya from Pulse Sports.
1) Kelvin Kiptum
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The late Kelvin Kiptum left fans with tons of questions about what he could have achieved if his life had not suddenly been cut short in a road accident early last year.
Kiptum burst into the global scene in 2022, making his debut at the Valencia Marathon where he ran the fastest time as a debutant after clocking 2:01:53.
Kelvin Kiptum then ran the second-fastest time at the 2023 London Marathon where he clocked 2:01:25 to settle for a win.
He then stunned the world with his record-breaking at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, where he shattered Eliud Kipchoge’s world record, clocking an astonishing 2:00:35.
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At just 24 years old, Kelvin Kiptum seemed destined to become the first human to break the two-hour barrier in an official race, the NN Rotterdam Marathon to be precise.
His untimely death left fans questioning what Kelvin Kiptum could have managed in marathon running and if he represented Kenya on the global stage, how many medals he could have won. His potential clash against Eliud Kipchoge was also never witnessed.
2) Jesse Owens
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When you hear of Jesse Owens, you definitely think of legendary performances and at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he secured four gold medals, one of the most historic performances.
He defied time and fans were looking forward to seeing what the American would have managed at the 1940 Tokyo Olympic Games but the outbreak of World War II led to the cancellation of the Games.
When the Games were postponed, Jesse Owens was in the form of his life and might have further cemented his legacy.
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An additional Olympic appearance would have elevated his status and fans would always live to as what his potential on the global stage would be if the Olympic Games were not cancelled.
3) Steve Prefontaine
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Affectionately known as ‘Pre’, Steve Prefontaine was a talented middle and long-distance runner. He had an aggressive running style that is still talked about to date and his personality was also something to marvel at.
The American was destined for greatness and after the 1972 Munich Olympics where he finished distant fourth in the 5000m after a tactical error, he wanted to make things right at the next Olympics.
Sadly, his life was cut short in a car accident in 1975, at the age of 24 and had he lived to the 1976 Montreal Olympics, he would have possibly managed to redeem himself.
4) Florence Griffith-Joyner
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Flo-Jo is still a household name to date following her dazzling performance at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Florence Griffith-Joyner set the world records in the 100m and 200m, clocking 10.49 and 21.34 seconds. The records still stand today.
Florence Griffith-Joyner was known for her flamboyant style and unmatched speed and Sha’Carri Richardson has been compared to her in recent times.
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However, after her Olympic triumphs, Flo-Jo retired from competitive athletics at the age of 29 and fans still think about what she could have become if she had continued competing.
Her sudden departure leaves the question of whether she could have lowered her records. Flo-Jo would later die in her sleep at the age of 38, after suffering a form of epileptic seizure that led her to suffocate.
5) Samuel Wanjiru
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Samuel Wanjiru became the first ever Kenyan to win a gold medal in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but he never really lived to enjoy his career for long.
At just 21, Samuel Wanjiru clocked a stunning 2:06:32 for the win and was destined to become one of the greatest marathoners in history.
Just like any other athlete, Samwel Wanjiru battled injuries and personal struggles and he defied all that to win major marathons, including Chicago and London, and showcased his fearless front-running style.
Samwel Wanjiru was on the right trajectory and was seen as the heir to the marathon throne, but in 2011, at just 24 years old, he tragically passed away under mysterious circumstances.
Had Wanjiru lived, he could have redefined marathoning and undeniably challenged Eliud Kipchoge and other top marathoners. His premature death left fans mourning a career that had only just begun.
6) Agnes Tirop
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Agnes Tirop was one of Kenya’s brightest distance-running talents whose glittering career was tragically cut short in 2021.
Tirop was born in 1995 and she burst onto the international stage as a teenager when she won gold in the 5000m at the 2012 World Junior Championships.
At the 2015 World Cross Country Championships, she became the second-youngest woman ever to win the senior title at just 19 years old. She was a formidable competitor on both the track and road and secured bronze medals in the 10,000m at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.
In September 2021, Agnes Tirop set the women-only world record in the 10km road race, clocking 30:01 in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
However, Agnes Tirop was found dead in her home in Iten, Kenya just after her record-breaking career. Tirop had been stabbed multiple times, and her husband, Emmanuel Rotich, was arrested as the prime suspect.
Agnes Tirop could have become one of the greatest 10,000m and marathon runners of all time following her trends in running. She lost her life when she was just entering her prime and the world will never know what she could have become.
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