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Police in Kenya are looking for the husband of Olympic long-distance runner Agnes Tirop after the 25-year-old was stabbed to death on Wednesday (October 13).
According to CNN, Keiyo North Sub County Police Commander Tom Makori confirmed to AFP that Tirop's husband, Emmanuel Rotich is the main "suspect" in her death.
"The suspect had mad a call to Tirop's parents saying that he'd committed something wrong. So we believe he knows what happened," Makori said. Police officials said Wednesday they found Tirop's body at her home in Iten with multiple stab wounds.
Athletics Kenya responded to the news of Tirop's killing stating the country had "lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage, thanks to her eye-catching performances."
Last month, Tirop reached a history-making feat, breaking the world record for the 10km run at the Adizero Road To Records event in Germany. She finished 4th in the 5,000m at the Tokyo Games earlier this summer.
"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, she had brought our country so much glory through her exploits on the global athletics stage including this year's 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she was part of the Kenyan team in Japan," Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a tribute to the Tirop.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe describe Tirop as one of sport's "brightest young stars."
"This is a terrible blow to the entire athletics community, but especially to her family, her friends and Athletics Kenya and I send them all our most heartfelt condolences."
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