Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei (44th place in the marathon at the Paris Olympics) has died after being admitted to a Kenyan hospital since Sunday after suffering burns to 80% of her body as a result of an assault by her partner. Cheptegei, 33, had been receiving treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in the city of Eldoret. His spokesman, Owen Menach, confirmed his death on Thursday.

Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, said in a message on X: “We have learned of the sad passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei…. following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. May her soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women. It was a cowardly and senseless act that resulted in the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will live on.”

HER BOYFRIEND ADMITTED TO THE SAME HOSPITAL

Trans Nzoia County police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom had said on Monday that Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, bought a container of petrol, poured it on her and set her on fire. “The couple were heard arguing outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before setting her on fire,” Kosiom told the ‘Standard of Kenya’ newspaper. “The suspect was also hit by the fire and suffered severe burns.” Ndiema was being treated in the same hospital as Cheptegei.

Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter had bought a plot of land in Trans-Nzoia to be close to the training centers. Last month, Cheptegei finished 44th in the Paris marathon and was 14th in the race at last year’s world championships in Budapest. In 2022, she won the mountain race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships held in Thailand.

We condole with the family of the late Rebecca Cheptegei OLY who passed on this morning. May her gentle soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/2qgGKYZhbp

— NOC UGANDA | CGA UGANDA (@Official_UOC) September 5, 2024