Ugandan Olympian marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei dies after being set on fire by her boyfriend

Ugandan: The sports association of Uganda said on X, previously known as Twitter, on Thursday that Rebecca Cheptegei, a marathon runner from Uganda who participated in the Olympics in Paris last month, passed just a few days after being set on fire by her lover.

The Uganda Athletics Federation wrote, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically fell victim to domestic violence early this morning.” As a federation, we demand justice and denounce such behavior. May peace be upon her soul.

Cheptegei, 33, a resident of Kenya, was critically ill after an assault on Sunday at her home in the western Trans Nzoia County left her with burns over 75% of her body. The Kenyan Olympic Team also reported her death on X.

A few weeks earlier, Cheptegei placed 44th in the Olympic women’s marathon.

Earlier this week, Trans Nzoia County police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom said that the athlete had been doused in gasoline by her lover Dickson Ndiema, who had attacked her residence with a gasoline jerry can and set her on fire after a land dispute. Ndiema, who sustained burns as well, is receiving medical attention in an Eldoret hospital.

Cheptegei had multi-organ failure late Wednesday, according to a medical official at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital where she was receiving treatment, as reported by CNN affiliate Citizen TV on Thursday.

Cheptegei’s death was deemed “tragic” by Uganda’s state minister for sports, Peter Ogwang, who also said on X Thursday that “Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances under which she died and a more detailed report and program will be provided in due course.”