BREAKING: Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Passes Away After Being Set On Fire By Former Boyfriend 

BREAKING: Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Passes Away After Being Set On Fire By Former Boyfriend 

According to report, Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner who participated in the recent Paris Olympics, has passed away following a horrifying incident where she was attacked by her former boyfriend who doused her in petrol and set her on fire.

The attack occurred in north-west Kenya, where Cheptegei lived with her two daughters and was returning home from church.

Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, said that he had lost a “very supportive” daughter.

According to fellow Ugandan athlete James Kirwa, who spoke to the BBC, she was known for her kindness and willingness to support other runners financially, often going out of her way to help those in need.

The local authorities have reported that the attack may have stemmed from a dispute over land between Cheptegei and her ex-partner.

This incident sheds light on the grim reality of gender-based violence that women in Kenya and other regions face, with statistics showing alarming rates of physical violence against women.

“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to combat gender-based violence, which has increasingly affected even elite sports,” Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said.

However, Mr Cheptegei speaking to journalists outside the hospital where she had been treated, urged the Kenyan government to ensure justice was done after the death of his daughter.

“We have lost our breadwinner,” he added and wondered how her two young children would “proceed with their education“.

Kirwa, who often trained with Cheptegei and had visited her in hospital, told the BBC she “was a very affable person. [She] helped us all even financially and she brought me training shoes when she came back from the Olympics. She was like an older sister to me“.

Uganda’s athletics federation said in a post on X, external: “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.”

Report also claimed that despite the efforts of medical professionals at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where she was treated, Cheptegei succumbed to severe burns and multi-organ failure.

The tragic event has sparked calls for justice from her family and the wider community, urging the Kenyan government to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.

“This is heart-breaking. Even more heart-breaking that it’s not the first time the athletics community has lost such an incredible female athlete to domestic violence,” British Olympian runner Eilish McColgan wrote on X, external.

The ex-partner, who also sustained burns in the incident, is receiving medical care and is reported to be in stable condition.

Earlier, local police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom was quoted by local media as saying: “The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her.”

“This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure,” the head of Uganda’s Olympic committee Donald Rukare said on X, external.

Uganda’s Sports Minister Peter Ogwang mentioned that preparations were underway to repatriate Cheptegei’s remains to Uganda for her final resting place.

Rebecca Cheptegei placed 44th in the marathon event at the recent Paris Olympics and had achieved a notable victory by securing gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2022.