Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies after being burned by her partner
The world of sport is in shock after the death of Rebecca Cheptegei, an Olympic Ugandan runner, who died in a Kenyan hospital after a brutal petrol attack.
The 33-year-old athlete competed in the women's marathon at the Paris Olympics this summer, finishing 44th.
The tragic incident occurred last Sunday, when his partner, Dickson Ndiema, doused her with gasoline and set her on fire after an argument, the New York Times reports.
Cheptegei suffered severe burns on 80% of his body and, according to doctors at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital from Eldoret, the runner succumbed to multiple organ failure.
The local police commander, Jeremiah Kosiom, He reported that Dickson Ndiema, who also suffered burns in the attack, will be charged with murder once he is released from the hospital.
Authorities have revealed that the couple were involved in a property dispute, which is believed to have triggered the deadly attack. Although Cheptegei's father, Joseph Cheptegei, had warned local authorities about Ndiema's threatening behavior, preventive measures were insufficient to avoid the tragedy.
An Olympic Career Interrupted
Rebecca Cheptegei He was one of the brightest prospects in Ugandan athletics.
Her career had reached a high point with her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Although she did not win a medal, her effort and dedication placed her among the best long-distance athletes on the African continent.
In addition to his participation in the Olympic Games, Cheptegei had competed in various international competitions, bringing honor to his country.
World Athletics, the governing body of world athletics, issued a statement expressing its “deep sadness” at the news of the runner’s death, calling the attack an intolerable act of domestic violence.
A Crime of Femicide on the Rise
The case of Rebecca Cheptegei It is part of a worrying trend of violence against women in Africa.
In Kenya, where the attack occurred, more than 500 women have been killed in femicide-related crimes between 2016 and 2023, according to data from Africa Data Hub.
This type of violence severely affects communities, not only in the family environment, but also in sports, where athletes like Cheptegei become victims of abusive relationships.
