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Ugandan Olympic Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Being Set on Fire by Ex-Boyfriend in Kenya

Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died after being set on fire by a former boyfriend. The 33-year-old Ugandan athlete, who competed in the recent Paris Olympics, suffered extensive burns in the attack on Sunday in north-west Kenya, where she lived and trained. Cheptegei was attacked after returning home from church with her two daughters, authorities said.

Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his grief, calling her a “very supportive” daughter. Fellow Ugandan athlete James Kirwa praised her generosity, sharing how she had financially helped other runners. A local administrator reported that Cheptegei and her ex-partner had been arguing over a piece of land, which she had bought in Trans Nzoia county to be near Kenya’s elite training centres.

Cheptegei is the third female athlete in Kenya to have been killed since October 2021, highlighting growing concerns over violence against female athletes in the region. Speaking outside the hospital where she was treated, Mr. Cheptegei urged the Kenyan government to deliver justice, lamenting the loss of their family’s breadwinner and worrying about the future of her two daughters, aged 12 and 13.

Dr. Owen Menach, head of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, stated that Cheptegei’s death was due to complete organ failure. Kirwa, who visited her in the hospital, described Cheptegei as a “very affable person” who supported fellow athletes and brought him training shoes from the Olympics, treating him like a brother.

Uganda’s athletics federation expressed their sorrow on social media, condemning the violence and calling for justice: “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.”

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