Benjamin Kiplagat, a three-time Olympic representative for Uganda, was discovered lifeless in Kenya. Local sources indicate that he met a grim fate through stabbing.
At the age of 34, Kiplagat showcased his running prowess in the 3,000m steeplechase during the 2012 London Olympics. His lifeless body was reportedly found in a vehicle, bearing wounds to his chest and neck, near the athletic hub of Eldoret in Kenya.
World Athletics expressed its shock and sorrow on social media, conveying heartfelt condolences to Kiplagat’s friends, family, teammates, and fellow athletes during this challenging period.
Kenyan law enforcement has taken swift action, detaining two individuals in connection with the tragic demise of the Ugandan athlete. According to Stephen Okal, the local police commander, both suspects, aged in their 30s, are notorious individuals known for causing distress among the public. The apprehension took place in the vicinity of Eldoret.
Crucially, one of the detained individuals was found in possession of a knife believed to be the weapon used in Kiplagat’s untimely death, as stated by Okal to Agence France-Presse.
The motive behind this unfortunate incident remains unclear at the moment.
Kiplagat, originally from Kenya, had made a mark as a long-distance runner specializing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, proudly representing Uganda in the Summer Olympics of 2008, 2012, and 2016.
Eldoret, known as a renowned high-altitude training center for athletes, has now become the backdrop to this somber event.
