Rebecca Cheptegei, a marathon runner who competed for Uganda at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has died days after she was set on fire, allegedly by her boyfriend.

Cheptegei, 33, was left fighting for her life in hospital for burns on 75 per cent of her body following a disagreement with her boyfriend outside their house on Monday 2 September, police said.

Cheptegei was receiving treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city in Kenya, where she trained.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, said that Cheptegei’s boyfriend bought a jerry can of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze.

Cheptegei’s boyfriend also sustained burn wounds, although they are less severe, and is receiving treatment at the same hospital.

Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the many athletic training centres in the county.

A report filed by the local authorities stated that Cheptegei and her boyfriend were heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.

An investigation into Cheptegei’s death is underway.

Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the Paris Olympics marathon, is the latest victim of attacks on athletes in Kenya.

In 2021, Agnes Tirop, a two-time bronze medallist over 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships, was found dead with stab wounds following an alleged attack from her husband.

Tirop’s husband is facing murder charges, which he denies, while Mutua’s boyfriend was identified as the main suspect and police are still searching for him.

In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee Mutua was found dead with a postmortem report stating that she was strangled.

In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds. In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead. A postmortem report said she was strangled.

SOURCE

We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei OLY following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. 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. Her legacy will continue to endure .

Donald Rukare
President, Ugandan Olympic Committee

I have just received disturbing news about the tragic death of Uganda's athlete Rebecca Cheptegei this morning in Kenya.

The Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances under which she died and a more detailed report & program will be provided in due course.

The long-distance runner represented us in the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics.

I send my deepest condolences to the family, relatives, sports fraternity and Ugandans at large.

Peter Ogwang
Uganda 's Minister of State for Sports & Education

On behalf of #TeamKenya we extend our deepest condolences to the Ugandan sports community, family, and friends of Rebecca Cheptegei.

Rebecca’s talent, and perseverance as Uganda’s Women’s Marathon record holder and a Paris 2024 Olympian will always be remembered and celebrated.

Her untimely and tragic passing is a profound loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time as we honor her legacy and advocate for an end to gender-based violence.

May her soul rest in peace. 🕊️

Kenyan Olympic Committee


Dickson Ndiema (in 4th pix) - Graphic

She won the 2022 Up and Downhill race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand. In 2023, she finished 14th in the marathon at the World Championships in Hungary. At the 2024 African Games in Ghana, she finished fourth in the half marathon.

Cheptegei, separated from her husband with two children, was in a relationship with Ndiema.

Saw the news this morning

Jealousy and insecurity

What else would make a boyfriend to an Olympian do this to her


I hope he get punished eternally for this

Thin Line
between Love & Hate
Or perhaps I should say
between Fake Love & Hate.

RIP.

Nawa o.. but why are Africans like dis including the agbado muncher killing his country men with Draconian economic policies .. God of thunder.. where @ though

WTF
See as the hediot is laying down like a devil 👿
See as he worwor sef

Poisonous love






A pack of cigarettes is now 1,200, even to die Young now sef don cost fa 🤷 🤷 🤣🤣🤣

Rest well

This is extreme wickedness, like seriously, pour petrol and burnt a human being like yourself

TemplarLandry:

always grinning like a f@@l.

Hmm

Sometimes I wonder how love can easily generate into hatred. If you own a boutique in Abuja or it environs, I have good products ready to be shipped out to you.

this is happening all the time in kenya. maybe the men wan steal money from the women

enemyofprogress:
Poisonous love






A pack of cigarettes is now 1,200, even to die Young now sef don cost fa 🤷 🤷 🤣🤣🤣

Na bruh. Death is very cheap. If someone wants to die young, they can always throw themselves in front of a moving vehicle for no cost at all.

He should also be set on fire...it's as easy as that. But wait where dem dey see all these toxic friend/boyfriend?

Yoruba demon



My wife can be more successful than me

Very Sad.

fergie001:


SOURCE




Donald Rukare
President, Ugandan Olympic Committee





Peter Ogwang
Uganda 's Minister of State for Sports & Education



Kenyan Olympic Committee


Dickson Ndiema (in 4th pix) - Graphic

Jealousy of spouse based on inferiority complex!

What should we call this now ? Well, this is ends time!

Parents try to counsel your daughters on the sort of relationships they get into, here is a national hero whose life was wasted by her boyfriend.

What sort of jealousy or envy can make a man set a woman ablaze? The relationships you keep can make or mar you, if she had dumped this dude earlier, she would still have been alive.

Never stay is an abusive relationship, forget about what people will say, because they won't defend or resurrect you when you're dead.

Left her husband and children to die in the hands of a boyfriend..
Women and their priorities..
I'm sure she refused all reconciliation attempts between herself and her husband probably due to fickle fame she got thru sports..
This is what happens when women don't submit to their husbands especially when they're socially or financially superior.

People just dey enjoy Useless and pointless relationships this days

Stay single and enjoy your life
Nack when you feel like

The guy is supposed to be put to death immediately too...

What kind of heartless creatures are these?? And some people will tell you there's no hell fire?

We are pencil in d hands of the lord when time reach nothing can change it
She for just have contacted the police to settle the issues
Many people dey mad without them knowing

fergie001:
She won the 2022 Up and Downhill race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand. In 2023, she finished 14th in the marathon at the World Championships in Hungary. At the 2024 African Games in Ghana, she finished fourth in the half marathon.

Cheptegei, separated from her husband with two children, was in a relationship with Ndiema.

See and the husband she separated from did not pour petrol on her it's the boyfriend that did that. She made her choice, but it was a bad one.

Women always this mentality that the grass is greener on the other side, but it's just an illusion.

Boyfriend from hell.

Just like that. And she's gone. It's a thin line between life and death. RIP baby girl.