Rebecca Cheptegei, the Ugandan Olympic marathon runner who competed in the Paris Olympics, has died following a brutal attack by her boyfriend.
Cheptegei, 33, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, September 5, at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.
Cheptegei was admitted to the hospital after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend on Sunday.
She sustained burns covering more than 75% of her body. Despite medical efforts, her condition deteriorated, leading to organ failure early Thursday morning, according to Owen Menach, senior director of clinical services at the hospital.
Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympics Committee, expressed grief over Cheptegei’s death. “We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei following a vicious attack by her boyfriend,” Rukare posted on X. “May her gentle soul rest in peace, and we strongly condemn violence against women.
This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.”
Peter Ogwang, Uganda’s minister of state for sports, described the death as “tragic” and confirmed that Kenyan authorities are investigating the incident.
“A more detailed report and program will be provided in due course,” Ogwang said.
Cheptegei’s death underscores a troubling trend of violence against female athletes in Kenya.
In October 2021, Kenyan Olympian Agnes Tirop was found murdered in her home in Iten, with her husband Ibrahim Rotich charged with her killing.
The case remains ongoing, and Tirop’s death led to the formation of ‘Tirop’s Angels,’ a non-profit aimed at combating domestic violence.
Joan Chelimo, a founder of the organization, highlighted the vulnerability of female athletes to exploitation and violence. “They get into these traps of predators who pose in their lives as lovers,” Chelimo told Reuters.
Cheptegei, who finished 44th in Paris, was remembered for her contributions to athletics and the broader sporting community.
Her tragic death has drawn attention to the broader issue of violence against women in sports.
