Paris to honour memory of Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on Friday (6 September) that the city would honour Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei by dedicating a sports venue to her memory.
Cheptegei died on Thursday, three days after she was admitted to hospital in Eldoret, Kenya after suffering over 75 per cent burns.
According to police, the 33-year-old was doused in petrol and set alight by her former boyfriend after an argument. The suspect remains in hospital after sustaining serious burns himself.
Cheptegei made her Olympic debut at Paris 2024 four weeks ago, finishing in 44th place behind Dutch winner Sifan Hassan. She was also 14th at last year's World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Hidalgo told reporters, "She dazzled us here in Paris. We saw her. Her beauty, her strength, her freedom, and it was in all likelihood her beauty, strength and freedom which were intolerable for the person who committed this murder.
"Paris will not forget her. We'll dedicate a sports venue to her so that her memory and her story remains among us and helps carry the message of equality, which is a message carried by the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The mother of two, a 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Champion, is the latest victim of domestic violence amongst athletes in Kenya.
In 2021, former 10km world record holder Agnes Tirop suffered fatal stab wounds in Iten just 10 days after racing in Switzerland. Barely a year later, another Kenyan road runner Damaris Mutua, was strangled to death in the same town.
The IOC, World Athletics and the United Nations have all condemned the "violent murder".