Athletics Kenya first reported Tirop’s death and said she was allegedly killed by her husband. Kenyan media initially reported she was found with stab wounds in her abdomen.

In a tweet, the Kenyan National Police Service said it “wishes to assure the public of speedy and comprehensive investigations into the heinous crime.”

“The National Police Service is saddened to learn of the untimely death of Agnes Chebet Tirop, a 10,000 meters veteran,” the police service also tweeted. “Though not a police officer, NPS has had a cordial relationship with the sports heroine who has excelled and represented Kenya with a lot of patriotism.”

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed his condolences in a statement, saying, “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.”

Tirop recently broke the women-only 10,000-meter road record last month in Germany and also won bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 world championships. This past summer, Tirop placed fourth in the women’s 5,000-meter race at the Tokyo Olympics.

At the age of 19, Tirop became the second-youngest champion ever to win the gold medal at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships with a victory in 2015.

In her short but decorated career, Tirop also won the Africa Cross Country Championship in 2014 in Kampala, Uganda, and the World Junior Cross Country Championship in 2013 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, according to Athletics Kenya.

On Wednesday, the official Twitter account for the International Olympic Committee posted a message that paid tribute to the late athlete.

In a tweet, IOC President Thomas Bach said his thoughts went out to her friends and family.

“I’m deeply shocked by the tragic death of Agnes Tirop, a young and bright talent,” Bach said “Her performances at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 gave hope and inspiration to so many people. My thoughts go to the Kenyan Olympic community and especially to her friends and family.”

“It is even more painful that Agnes, a Kenyan hero by all measures, painfully lost her young life through a criminal act perpetrated by selfish and cowardly people,” President Kenyatta also said in his statement. “I urge our law enforcement agencies to track down and apprehend the criminals responsible for the killing of Agnes so that they can face the full force of the law.”

William Samoei Ruto, Deputy President of Kenya, also shared a message about Tirop. He wrote on Twitter, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of our world record star Agnes Tirop, a gifted and indefatigable long-distance athlete who kept our flag flying globally. She was hardworking, focussed and resilient.”

“Kenya has lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage,” wrote Athletics Kenya in its tweet. “We pray that God may grant strength to [Agnes’s] family and friends at this difficult time.”