Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has passed away, days after being horrifically attacked by her former boyfriend.
According to Ugandan officials, the 33-year-old athlete, who had represented Uganda in the Paris Olympics, succumbed to extensive burns sustained when her ex-partner allegedly doused her in petrol and set her on fire.
The attack, which occurred last Sunday, left Cheptegei fighting for her life at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where Dr. Owen Menach, the head of the facility, confirmed her death after her organs failed.
“All her organs failed,” Dr. Menach told local media, as the athlete’s family has yet to officially comment on her passing.
Cheptegei, who lived and trained in north-west Kenya, had reportedly just returned home from church when the incident occurred. Local authorities said the attack was possibly linked to an ongoing dispute over land between the athlete and her former partner.
The local administrator who filed a report to the police highlighted that the pair had been entangled in a bitter wrangle over land rights, which may have escalated the violence. Her ex-boyfriend, who also suffered burns, was admitted to the same hospital with less severe injuries.
The Ugandan Athletics Federation expressed their deep sorrow over the incident. In a post on X, they stated, “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.”
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his grief earlier in the week, saying, “I pray for justice for my daughter,” and noted that he had never witnessed such an “inhumane act” before in his life.
Her tragic death is reminiscent of other high-profile cases of violence against female athletes in East Africa.
In 2021, fellow athletes Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua were both killed, allegedly at the hands of their partners. Tirop’s husband is currently on trial for her murder, while Mutua’s boyfriend remains at large.
The rising trend of violence against female athletes in Kenya, many of which end fatally, has sparked widespread concern across the region.
Kenyan and Ugandan sports officials continue to condemn the incidents, calling for stricter measures to protect athletes from such violence.
Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway into Cheptegei’s death.
