Ugandan Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei dies after fire attack
The 33-year-old runner died three days after reportedly being set on fire by her boyfriend outside her home in Eldoret, Kenya.
Paris 2024 Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died after reportedly being set on fire by her boyfriend.
The 33-year-old Ugandan who finished 44th behind the Dutch winner Sifan Hassan on 11 August had been in critical condition in a hospital in neighbouring Kenya.
Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare confirmed the marathoner’s death on Thursday (5 September).
“We have learnt of the sad passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a vicious attack by her boyfriend,” he posted on social media platform X.
The news of her death was also shared by the Ugandan Athletics Federation on the same platform.
“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.”
Local Kenyan police officer Jeremiah ole Kosiom had confirmed to AP on Monday that Cheptegei's former boyfriend poured petrol on her and set her ablaze after a disagreement on Sunday.
The mother of two, a 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Champion, suffered over 75% burns and was admitted at the Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, alongside her attacker, who also sustained serious burns.
The CEO of the hospital Dr Owen Menach said the athlete who was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit died at 5am after "full organ failure".
The Ugandan marathon record holder who has been competing since 2010, is the latest victim of domestic violence amongst athletes in Kenya.
In 2021, former 10km world record holder Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in Iten, Kenya just 10 days after her last race in Switzerland. Barely a year later, another Kenyan road runner Damaris Mutua, was strangled in the same town.
Her death shocked the East African athletics' scene with her father Joseph Cheptegei leading the tributes.
“I am very saddened by my daughter’s death. I depended on her for so much,” a distraught Cheptegei told journalists in Kenya.
“She was helping me with her siblings’ school fees…such a barbaric act. She runs for Uganda but has been training here in Kenya. She bought land and built a house and has been living with her two children and younger sister…I am pleading my daughter gets justice.”
Kenya’s Olympic Committee was also shocked by her death.
“Rebecca’s talent, and perseverance as Uganda’s women’s marathon record holder and a Paris 2024 Olympian will always be remembered and celebrated. Her untimely and tragic passing is a profound loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time as we [honour] her legacy and advocate for an end to gender-based violence.”
A non-governmental organisation, Tirop’s Angels, founded by female Kenyan athletes and Tirop's family, also joined the call for justice.
"We are heartbroken by the tragic murder of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, another life lost to gender-based violence.Tirop’s Angels condemns this horrific act and calls for swift justice."