Agnes Tirop, an elite Kenyan long-distance runner who finished 4th at the Tokyo Olympics, was tragically found stabbed to death in her home, according to a Kenyan athletic commission.
She was only 25 years old.
According to reports, police are actively looking for Agnes’ husband who hasn’t been seen since her death.
The BBC is reporting Agnes’ father called police Tuesday night, worried he could not reach his daughter.
Sadly, when police arrived at her home in Iten, Kenya, they found Tirop laying in bed, surrounded by a pool of blood, according to the UK outlet.
Police say the runner had what looked like a stab wound to her neck … and that’s what they believe caused her death. She also reportedly had a stab wound to her stomach.
Agnes’ husband was not at the home when they arrived … and has not been heard from since authorities arrived on the scene.
Tirop was one of the best long-distance runners in the world. In fact, just last month she set a women’s world record at a 10-kilometer race in Germany. Agnes also took home bronze medals at the World Athletic Championships in 2017 and 2019.
“Athletics Kenya are distraught to learn about the untimely death of World 10,000m bronze medallist Agnes Tirop,” the country’s athletics body said in a statement.
Everyone from Adidas to Kenya’s president weighed in on the tragic loss.
“It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate and very sad that we’ve lost a young and promising athlete who, at a young age of 25 years, had brought our country so much glory,” Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya’s president said in a statement.
“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,” the sportswear giant tweeted.
Rest in peace.