Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Dead at 33 After Being Set on Fire
Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Set on Fire in Gasoline Attack Weeks After Paris Games
Rebecca Cheptegei’s story has ended in tragedy. Â
The Ugandan distance runnerâwho competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics just weeks agoâdied Sept. 5 after being set on fire in a gasoline attack by an alleged boyfriend, local outlets confirmed. She was 33.
âIt is sad that we lost the patient early this morning,â said Dr. Owen Menach, the Director of Clinical Services and Surgery at Kenyaâs Moi Teaching and Referring Hospital where Rebecca was admitted to the ICU for her burn injuries, per the The Nation, âafter all her organs failed at about 5 a.m. while we were doing our best to save her life.â
The Ugandan Athletics Federation expressed its sadness over the loss of the athlete.
âWe are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence,â the organization shared on X, formerly Twitter. âAs a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.âÂ
The Olympianâwho was reportedly a mom to two childrenâsuffered burns on at least 75 percent of her body as well as inhalation burns on Sept. 2 after her alleged boyfriend Dickson Ndiema set her fire following an altercation, police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom told reporters, per the BBC.Â
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âThe couple were heard quarreling outside their house,â he told journalists. âDuring the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her.âÂ
Authorities said, per the BBC, that the suspect snuck into Rebeccaâs Kenyan home with a five-liter can of gasoline while the athlete was at church. The suspect reportedly doused her with the liquid when she returned and lit her on fire. Neighbors told the police they heard the altercation and pulled the pair out of the flames before they were both rushed to the hospital.Â
According to local outlets, Rebecca and the suspect had been quarreling over a land dispute.
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Many have expressed their outrage over the attack on Rebecca, which occurs amid ongoing instances of gender-based violence in Kenya. Â
As Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei said, per The Nation, âThe incident that happened to our athlete from Uganda is really unfortunate and sad because you canât harm somebody due to disagreements about property, especially from a partner. As a federation, we condemn this in the strongest terms possible because that is not how we are supposed to live.â
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