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The Ugandan athletics community is mourning the loss of one of its finest runners, Benjamin Kiplagat, who was found dead in a car in Kenya on Saturday night.
Police said the 34-year-old had been stabbed multiple times in what appeared to be a robbery gone wrong. His personal belongings, including his phone and wallet, were missing from the scene.
Kiplagat, who was born in Kenya but switched allegiance to Uganda in 2006, was a specialist in the 3,000-metre steeplechase, an event that combines running, hurdling and water jumping.
He represented Uganda at three Olympic Games (2008, 2012 and 2016) and four World Championships (2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015). His best result was a fourth-place finish at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.
He also won several medals at the African Championships, including gold in 2010 and 2012, and silver in 2014 and 2016.
Kiplagat had been training in Eldoret, a town in the Rift Valley that is home to many of Kenya's elite runners, ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
His coach, Moses Kipsiro, said he was shocked and saddened by the news of his death.
"He was a very humble and hardworking athlete, always focused on his goals. He was like a brother to me and we shared a lot of experiences together. He had a bright future ahead of him and he was aiming for a medal in Paris. It is a big loss for Uganda and the whole athletics world," Kipsiro said.
The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) issued a statement expressing its condolences to Kiplagat's family and friends, and calling for a thorough investigation into his murder.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our beloved athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat, who was a great ambassador for our country and our sport. He was a talented and dedicated runner who always gave his best in every competition. He will be greatly missed by all of us. We urge the Kenyan authorities to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice," the statement read.
Kiplagat is survived by his wife and two children, who live in Uganda. His body will be transported to Uganda for burial, according to his family.
