Ugandan Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, has died after suffering severe burns in a brutal attack by her former boyfriend, Ugandan officials confirmed.
Cheptegei, who competed in the Paris Olympics, was targeted outside her home in north-west Kenya on Sunday after returning from church, according to local authorities.
The police report, filed by a local administrator, indicated that the athlete had been embroiled in a land dispute with her ex-partner. As police continue their investigation, there are growing concerns about rising violence against female athletes in Kenya.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace,” Uganda’s athletics federation said in a statement on the social media platform X.
Though her family has yet to confirm her death, Dr Owen Menach, head of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where Cheptegei was admitted, confirmed to local media that she died after multiple organ failure.
Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend, who was also burned in the incident but sustained less severe injuries, remains in intensive care. Dr Menach reported that his condition is stable and improving.
Local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom described the events leading up to the attack: “The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her.”
Cheptegei, originally from a region just across the Ugandan border, had purchased land and built a home in Trans Nzoia County, near Kenya’s renowned athletic training centres. A gold medalist at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand, Cheptegei had also competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, where she placed 44th.
“This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure,” stated Donald Rukare, head of Uganda’s Olympic committee, on X.
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, spoke earlier in the week, praying “for justice for my daughter” and expressing his deep sorrow: “I have never seen such an inhumane act in my life.”
The tragedy of Cheptegei’s death follows the murders of fellow East African athletes Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua in the past two years. Both cases saw their partners identified as suspects. Tirop’s husband is currently facing murder charges, which he denies, while authorities continue to search for Mutua’s boyfriend.
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