Tragic Loss: Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Brutal Attack

Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei succumbed to injuries after being set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya. The incident highlights the ongoing violence against female athletes. Cheptegei’s passing adds to a grim list of cases involving prominent sportswomen in Kenya, prompting calls for justice and protection measures.

Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei tragically passed away on Thursday, four days after being doused with petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya. This marks the latest attack on a female athlete in the country. Cheptegei, 33, who competed in the Paris Olympics, suffered burns to over 75% of her body, according to media reports from Kenya and Uganda.

She is the third prominent sportswoman to be killed in Kenya since October 2021. "We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei...following a vicious attack by her boyfriend," stated Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympics Committee, in a post on X.

"May her gentle soul rest in peace, and we strongly condemn violence against women," he continued. Admitted to a hospital in Eldoret after the attack, Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries after her organs failed, as reported by Owen Menach from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenyan Sports Minister, described the death as a significant loss to the region, emphasizing the need to combat gender-based violence. Uganda's athletics federation and her family called for justice, with her father, Joseph Cheptegui, highlighting property disputes as a potential trigger. The case draws attention to the alarming rates of violence against women in East Africa.

Previously, Olympian runner Agnes Tirop's murder in 2021 had shocked the nation, leading to the formation of 'Tirop's Angels' to combat domestic violence. Joan Chelimo from the organization noted the high risks faced by female athletes from men attracted to their success and money.

(With inputs from agencies.)