Track and field has been a cornerstone of human competition for centuries, providing athletes with a platform to showcase their speed, talent, and endurance. Over the years, the sport has delivered unforgettable moments, but some scenarios have left fans wondering, ‘What if?’.
Some athletes were forced to end their careers too soon, leaving the world to speculate on what more they could have achieved. Here are some of the most compelling stories in track and field history that could have rewritten the record books.
- Kelvin Kiptum The late Kelvin Kiptum left fans with countless questions about what he could have achieved had his life not been tragically cut short in a road accident. Kiptum burst onto the global scene in 2022, making his marathon debut in Valencia, where he ran the fastest time for a debutant at 2:01:53.
In 2023, he clocked 2:01:25 to win the London Marathon and then stunned the world at the Chicago Marathon, shattering the world record with an astonishing 2:00:35. At just 24 years old, Kiptum seemed destined to become the first human to break the two-hour barrier in an official race. His untimely death left fans questioning how many medals he could have won on the global stage and what a potential showdown with Eliud Kipchoge could have looked like.
- Jesse Owens Jesse Owens remains one of the most legendary figures in athletics. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he secured four gold medals in a historic performance. However, the outbreak of World War II led to the cancellation of the 1940 Olympic Games, denying Owens the opportunity to further cement his legacy.
At the time, he was in peak form and could have achieved even greater success on the Olympic stage. An additional Olympic appearance would have elevated his status, leaving fans to wonder just how much more he could have accomplished.
- Steve Prefontaine Affectionately known as ‘Pre’, Steve Prefontaine was a talented middle and long-distance runner with an aggressive running style that still fascinates fans today. After finishing fourth in the 5000m at the 1972 Munich Olympics due to a tactical error, he was determined to make amends at the next Games.
However, his life was tragically cut short in a car accident in 1975 at just 24 years old. Had he lived to compete in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, he could have redeemed himself and left an even bigger mark on the sport.
- Florence Griffith-Joyner Flo-Jo remains a household name due to her dazzling performance at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where she set world records in the 100m (10.49 seconds) and 200m (21.34 seconds). Her records still stand today, a testament to her unmatched speed.
However, she retired at just 29, leaving fans to wonder whether she could have lowered her records even further. Her sudden departure from the sport left lingering questions about how much faster she could have gone. She later passed away at 38 due to a form of epileptic seizure.
- Samuel Wanjiru Samuel Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon gold medal in 2008, clocking a stunning 2:06:32 at just 21 years old. His fearless front-running style made him a top contender for future races.
However, personal struggles and injuries hampered his career, and in 2011, he tragically passed away at the age of 24. His premature death left fans mourning a career that had only just begun and questioning what he could have achieved had he lived longer.
- Agnes Tirop Agnes Tirop was one of Kenya’s brightest distance-running talents before her life was tragically cut short in 2021. She won gold in the 5000m at the 2012 World Junior Championships and secured bronze medals in the 10,000m at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.
In 2021, she set the women-only world record in the 10km road race, clocking 30:01. However, she was found dead in her home, allegedly murdered by her husband. She was just entering her prime, leaving the world to wonder how great she could have become.
These six athletes left behind legacies filled with promise and potential. Their stories serve as reminders of how unpredictable sports and life can be, leaving fans to forever ponder the question: ‘What if?’
