Tragic Demise of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Spotlights Gender Violence

Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan Olympic marathon runner, has passed away after being attacked by her boyfriend. She suffered severe burns and died in a Kenyan hospital. Her death highlights the ongoing violence against female athletes, with a similar case involving Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop making headlines in 2021.

Tragic news has struck the athletic world as Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, aged 33, has passed away, hospital authorities confirmed on Thursday. Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries after a brutal attack by her boyfriend, who doused her in petrol and set her on fire.

According to reports from Kenyan and Ugandan media, Cheptegei endured burns to more than 75% of her body during the attack, which took place on Sunday in Kenya. This incident marks the third killing of a female athlete in the region 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. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.'

Cheptegei, who competed in the Paris Olympics and finished 44th, was admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, a city in Kenya's Rift Valley. She ultimately passed away at 5.30 am as a result of organ failure, according to Owen Menach, the hospital's senior director of clinical services. Peter Ogwang, Uganda's minister of state for sports, labeled her death as 'tragic' and indicated that Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Cheptegei's passing sheds light on the persistent issue of violence against sportswomen in Kenya, where she had been training. This tragedy evokes the memory of Olympian runner Agnes Tirop, who was murdered in October 2021 under similar circumstances. Tirop's death led to the formation of 'Tirop's Angels,' a non-profit aimed at combating domestic violence. Joan Chelimo, one of the organization's founders, expressed concern over the vulnerability of female athletes to exploitation and violence by men drawn to their financial success.

(With inputs from agencies.)