KUALA LUMPUR — Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei tragically passed away today after suffering severe burns in a violent attack by her boyfriend in Kenya.
Cheptegei, who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, was doused in petrol and set on fire on Sunday, leaving her with burns covering over 75% of her body. The 33-year-old’s death marks the third high-profile killing of a female athlete in Kenya since 2021.
The attack occurred in the Kenyan Rift Valley city of Eldoret, where Cheptegei was hospitalised following the assault. Despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries early this morning.
“We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a vicious attack by her boyfriend,” Uganda’s Olympic Committee president Donald Rukare shared in a post on X.
“May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women.”
Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Games, had been admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital after the attack.
Owen Menach, senior director of clinical services at the hospital, confirmed that her organs failed despite treatment efforts. A full report on her death is expected later this week.
Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen expressed his sorrow over the loss, calling it a “tragedy” for the entire region.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which in recent years has reared its ugly head in elite sporting circles,” Murkomen stated in a statement.
Uganda’s athletics federation has called for justice, while Peter Ogwang, Uganda’s Minister of State for Sports, confirmed that Kenyan authorities are investigating the killing.
The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of women in Kenya, particularly in the realm of sports.
The tragic death of Cheptegei follows a series of similar attacks on female athletes in Kenya, including the murder of Olympian Agnes Tirop in October 2021, which shocked the nation.
Tirop’s husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was charged with her murder, a case that continues in court.
Tirop’s killing led to the creation of ‘Tirop’s Angels,’ a non-profit organisation dedicated to fighting domestic violence in the athletic community.
Joan Chelimo, one of its founders, said female athletes are often targeted by men seeking to exploit their financial success.
“Female athletes often fall prey to predators who pose as lovers, only to manipulate and exploit them,” Chelimo told Reuters. — September 5, 2024