Ugandan Olympian Cheptegei Dies After Alleged Petrol Fire Attack
Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, has tragically passed away after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her former boyfriend in Western Kenya.
The Ugandan athlete, who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, suffered severe burns covering more than 75% of her body. Despite being treated at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, she succumbed to her injuries days later due to multiple organ failure.
Why did the attack occur?
The attack took place on Sunday, shortly after Cheptegei returned home from church with her two daughters.
Police reports indicate that the couple had been quarrelling over land ownership, and during the altercation, her ex-boyfriend allegedly poured petrol on her and set her alight.
He, too, was hospitalised with less severe burns and remains in intensive care, while investigations continue.
Cheptegei’s friends and family mourn her death
Cheptegei, a gold medalist at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2022, was a respected figure in East African athletics. Known for her generosity, fellow Ugandan runner James Kirwa described her as "like an older sister" who helped fellow athletes financially.
“She brought me training shoes from the Olympics,” Kirwa said, reflecting on her kindness.
Her family and fellow athletes are devastated. Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, called her a "very supportive" daughter and lamented the loss of the family’s breadwinner. He expressed concerns over how her children, aged 12 and 13, would continue their education after this tragedy.
Cheptegei’s parents revealed that she had purchased land in Trans-Nzoia County, close to Kenya's elite athletics training centres, in hopes of advancing her career while being near her family.
Kenyan and Ugandan officials have strongly condemned Cheptegei’s killing. Uganda’s athletics federation posted a tribute on X, saying, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei... May her soul rest in peace."
Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen called the incident a "stark reminder of the urgent need to combat gender-based violence."
Cheptegei’s death another in cases of violence against female athletes in Kenya
This brutal attack highlights the rising cases of violence against female athletes in Kenya, where two other sports women have been killed under similar circumstances since 2021. Agnes Tirop, another Olympian, was murdered by her husband, while runner Damaris Mutua’s boyfriend remains the main suspect in her death.
According to recent data, nearly 34% of Kenyan women have experienced physical violence, with married women particularly at risk. The sports community in Kenya and Uganda has expressed concerns that female athletes are being specifically targeted, as their success and wealth can make them vulnerable to exploitation or violence by those who feel threatened or want to take advantage.
