By Staff Reporter
Dubai: The sporting world is in mourning following the heartbreaking death of Portugal and Liverpool star Diogo Jota, who was involved in a fatal car crash alongside his brother, Andre Silva. Jota, who had been married just three weeks earlier and was a father of three, was driving his Lamborghini when a tyre blowout caused the vehicle to crash while overtaking. The car caught fire following the collision, leaving the global sports community stunned.
Jota’s tragic accident is a painful reminder of the many athletes whose lives have been cut short by unforeseen tragedies. Here’s a look at some other prominent sports figures who lost their lives in similar heartbreaking circumstances:
World marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum died in a car crash in Kenya in February last year, along with his coach. The vehicle lost control while driving at night, veered into a ditch, and struck a tree. Kiptum made history as the first man to complete a marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute, setting a record time of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon in October, surpassing fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge’s previous mark.
Kenyan steeplechase athlete Kennedy Njiru, 32, died in a road accident near Nyahururu, Kenya in January 2020. Known for strong performances at both national and international competitions, his loss was deeply felt within the athletics community.
