Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Horrific Attack by Former Boyfriend
Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner who competed in the Paris Olympics, has tragically died after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. The athlete succumbed to her injuries days after the attack, which left her with severe burns.
Cheptegei was attacked outside her home in north-west Kenya after returning from church with her two daughters. Authorities believe the incident stemmed from a dispute over land between Cheptegei and her ex-partner, who is currently in intensive care with less severe burns. A police investigation is underway.
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his devastation, calling her a “very supportive” daughter and wondering how her two children, aged 12 and 13, would continue their education. Fellow Ugandan athlete James Kirwa described Cheptegei as generous, noting how she had financially helped other athletes.
Cheptegei had built a home in Kenya's Trans Nzoia county to be near elite training centers and was considered a beacon of hope in her community. Her passing has sparked renewed calls to address gender-based violence in Kenya, where attacks on women are a growing concern. According to a 2022 national survey, 34% of women in the country reported experiencing physical violence.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to combat gender-based violence, which has increasingly affected even elite sports,” Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said.
Cheptegei’s death follows the tragic killings of fellow East African athletes Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Damaris Mutua in 2022, both allegedly at the hands of their partners.
The Ugandan Athletics Federation expressed their sorrow, condemning the act of domestic violence, while British Olympian Eilish McColgan also mourned Cheptegei's death, calling it "heartbreaking."
Rebecca Cheptegei had won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand and recently finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics. Her death is a profound loss to both the sports world and her community.
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