NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 13 – Former World Cross Country Champion and Team Kenya Olympian Agnes Tirop has been found dead in her house in Iten with stab wounds, Athletics Kenya (AK) official Barnaba Korir has confirmed.
Korir, who was Kenya’s General Team Manager at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, confirmed that Tirop had deep stab wounds when she was discovered dead this morning.
“It is true and a very sad story that Tirop has been found dead in her house in Iten. From the reports we are getting is that she has been stabbed by her husband. We have sent a team of Athletics Officials there to get further details,” Korir told Capital Sport,” Korir said.
It is alleged that Tirop was murdered by her husband with whom they had problems with for a long time and her death comes only 10 days before she celebrates her 26th birthday.
Tirop was just starting her pre-season training after a month’s rest from the Tokyo Olympic Games where she finished fourth in the 5,000m won by Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands while Kenya’s Hellen Obiri took silver as Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia settled for bronze.
She won the World Cross Country title in 2015 and won bronze at the World Championships in 2017 and 2019.
Athletics Kenya said in a statement that it had learnt the untimely death of the fast rising star.
“Athletics Kenya are this afternoon distraught to learn about the untimely death of World 10,000m bronze medalist Agnes Tirop. Tirop was found dead at their home in Iten after she was allegedly stabbed by her husband. We are still working to unearth more details surrounding her demise,” AK said in a statement.
“Kenya has lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage, thanks to her eye-catching performances on the track. We pray that God may grant strength to family and friends at this difficult time.”