Kenyan world record holder Agnes Jebet Tirop was stabbed to death at her house in Iten, Kenya, and now her husband has been arrested.
An official said that once investigations are over, Emmanuel Rotich, who was arrested in Mombasa, Kenya, will face charges, reported BBC.
Police treated her husband as a suspect after she was found dead Wednesday and he went missing. The 25-year-old athlete was reported missing by her dad Tuesday night, and the following day investigators went to her house, according to BBC.
As per Tom Makori, head of police for the area, when cops reached her house, they found Tirop on the bed with "a pool of blood on the floor." She had been "stabbed in the neck," which cops thought was a knife wound, and they believed that is what caused her death, added Makori. Sources said that she also had a stab wound to her stomach.
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta said that it is unfortunate and sad that they have lost a young and promising athlete who had brought the country so much glory. He added that it is even more painful that the "Kenyan hero" painfully lost her life through a "criminal act perpetuated by selfish and cowardly people."
She stood fourth in the 5,000 m (3.107 miles) at the Tokyo Games and bagged bronze medals in the 10,000m (6.214 miles) at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships. Last month, Tirop set the 10 km (6.214 miles) road race world record at the headquarters of her sponsors Adidas in Germany. The sportswear company posted their condolences on Twitter.
The adidas family is deeply saddened by the tragic news about Agnes Jebet Tirop.
— adidas Running (@adidasrunning) October 13, 2021
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. #AgnesTirop pic.twitter.com/VXZQhdw6HL
According to Athletics Kenya, her death was no less than losing a jewel and was considered one of the fastest-rising athletes on the international platform due to her performances, CNN reported. Heaping praise on her, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach described Tirop as "a young and bright talent," who gave inspiration and hope to many people.
She was among the world's "best female distance runners over the past six years," according to former Olympic champion and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who added that her death was a terrible blow to her family, friends and the athletics community.
