Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan athlete who competed in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, died in a Kenyan hospital after being attacked by her boyfriend, who allegedly doused her with gasoline and set her on fire.
“As it is now, the criminal who harmed my daughter is a murderer and I am yet to see what the security officials are doing,” Joseph Cheptegei, Rebecca’s father said. “He is still free and might even flee.”
Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Being Brutally Attacked By Her Boyfriend
Very sad news.
Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died days after being doused in petrol and set on fire by a former boyfriend, a Ugandan official says. pic.twitter.com/4J3gMekJTU
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 5, 2024
The Uganda Athletics Federation also confirmed the death of Rebecca Cheptegei who was just 33 years old. Cheptegei had been running professionally since 2010 and competed in the women’s marathon at Paris 2024, where she finished in 44th place.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”
BREAKING NEWS💔💔
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/ZdxmZ3wDuE— UGANDA ATHLETICS FEDERATION🇺🇬🇺🇬 UAF (@UgaAthletics2) September 5, 2024
The incident occurred last Sunday in Trans Nzoia, where the athlete was rushed to hospital with burns on 80% of her body. The alleged attacker, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, also suffered severe burns on 30% of his body and is currently in the same hospital in Eldoret.
On Sunday, Marangach entered Cheptegei’s house without permission with a five-litre canister full of petrol. The athlete had gone to church with her children and when she returned, the man threw the fuel on her and set her on fire.
The runner’s parents, Joseph Cheptegei and Agnes Ndiema, said their daughter, who lives in Uganda, had bought land in the Kenyan county and built a house where she stayed during her training sessions.
Talking to reporters earlier in the week, her father said that he prayed “for justice for my daughter”, adding that he had never seen such an inhumane act in his life.
Cheptegei died after the Kenyan government announced plans on Wednesday to transfer the athlete to Nairobi for specialist medical treatment given her critical condition.
Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the government would ensure justice for the victim.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which in recent years has reared its ugly head in elite sporting circles,” he wrote in a statement.
