An Ugandan athlete who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics has died after being brutally attacked by her boyfriend, according to authorities. Distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei was just 33 at the time of her death.
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The shocking incident happened on Sunday (September 1) in Cheptegei’s home in western Kenya, as reported by Associated Press. Cheptegei died in at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in the city of Eldoret, where she was previously in critical condition.
Dr. Owen Benach, who works at the hospital, told The New York Times that the cause of death was multiple organ failure.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom shared on Monday that Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, set her on fire during an argument. The athlete suffered seventy percent burns on her body. Ndiema also suffered burn wounds.
Benach—the senior director of clinical services at the hospital— had previously told reporters that “a high-profile patient” had to be “fully sedated because of the extent of the burns.”
Kosiom explained to The Standard that Cheptegei and Ndiema were “heard arguing outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her. The suspect was also caught by the fire and sustained serious burns.”
Kosoim also shared what time the attack occurred. “The husband is believed to have sneaked into the compound at around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday while the wife and the children were in Church. Upon returning, Dickson, who had procured petrol, began pouring it on Rebecca before he set her ablaze.”
Last month in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Cheptegei finished in 44th place. She moved from Uganda to Trans Nzoia County after buying land in the area so she could train.
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, told journalists that since the tragedy he has prayed “for justice for my daughter.”
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