Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in critical condition at a Kenyan hospital after reportedly being set on fire by a former boyfriend. The 33-year-old marathon runner, who competed in the recent Paris Olympics, suffered burns covering more than 75% of her body, according to police. The attack occurred at her home in Endebess, western Kenya, where she had been training.

Local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom reported that neighbors rescued Cheptegei following the incident on Sunday. The alleged attacker, who also sustained serious burns, is receiving treatment alongside Cheptegei at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret. Witnesses claim the couple was heard arguing outside their house, during which the boyfriend allegedly doused Cheptegei with a liquid and set her alight.

Cheptegei, originally from Uganda, had purchased land and built a house in Trans Nzoia county to be near Kenya’s athletic training centers. The couple reportedly had ongoing disputes over the property. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Cheptegei finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics and previously won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.

This attack has heightened concerns over rising violence against female athletes in Kenya, with several high-profile cases ending in fatalities. In April 2022, runner Damaris Mutua was found strangled in Iten, and months earlier, record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death in the same town. Male athletes have also been targeted; in December 2022, Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat was fatally stabbed in Eldoret.