Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympic marathon runner, has tragically passed away, as confirmed by hospital officials on Thursday. This follows a horrific incident in which she was set ablaze by her boyfriend after being doused in petrol.
Reports from both Kenyan and Ugandan media indicate that the 33-year-old athlete, who participated in the Paris Olympics, sustained burns covering over 75% of her body during the attack that occurred in Kenya on Sunday. Her death marks the third instance of a female athlete being killed in the country since October 2021.
Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympics Committee, expressed his sorrow in a post on X, stating, "We have learned of the sad passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei... following a vicious attack by her boyfriend." He added, "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."
Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the Paris Olympics, was receiving treatment at a hospital in Eldoret, located in the Kenyan Rift Valley, after the incident.
Owen Menach, senior director of clinical services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, reported that she "passed away this morning at 5:30 am after her organs failed," and mentioned that a comprehensive report regarding her death would be made available later in the day.
Peter Ogwang, Uganda's minister of state for sports, referred to her death as "tragic," noting that "Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, and a more detailed report will be provided in due course."
Cheptegei's death highlights the alarming issue of violence against female athletes in Kenya, where she resided while training.
In October 2021, another prominent athlete, Agnes Tirop, was found murdered in her home in Iten, suffering from multiple stab wounds to the neck. Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, has been charged with her murder and has pleaded not guilty, with the case still ongoing.
The shocking nature of Tirop's killing prompted current and former athletes to establish Tirop's Angels in 2022, an initiative aimed at addressing domestic violence.