Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, died after being attacked by her boyfriend. The man had set her on fire after dousing her with fuel.
“Unfortunately, we lost her after all her organs failed last night,” said Dr Owen Menach, acting director of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, western Kenya, quoted by local media.
The Uganda Athletics Federation also confirmed the death of the 33-year-old athlete. “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing away of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning, who was tragically a victim of domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace,” the UAF said on its social media account X.
The attack occurred last Sunday in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia county in western Uganda, from where the athlete was rushed to the aforementioned hospital with burns on 80% of her body. Dickson Ndiema Marangach, her boyfriend, also suffered serious burns on 30% of his body and is hospitalised in the same hospital in Eldoret.
Marangach broke into Cheptegei’s house last Sunday with a five-litre jerrycan full of petrol, according to police. The athlete had gone to church with her children and, when she returned, the man threw the fuel at 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.
“I have lost a daughter who has been helping me in many ways,” the visibly distressed father told reporters at the hospital on Thursday, stressing that the family was financially dependent on the athlete.
“We have children in secondary schools and I don’t know how we are going to meet this challenge to ensure that they complete their studies,” the father added, urging authorities to speed up investigations into the incident and ensure that the alleged perpetrator is arrested and charged.
The Kenyan government had announced plans on Wednesday to transfer the athlete to Nairobi for specialist medical treatment given her critical condition.
“Efforts are being made to ensure that the athlete admitted to hospital in Eldoret is flown to Nairobi for specialist treatment following the unfortunate incident,” Kenya’s Secretary of State for Sport, Peter Tum, said.
Cheptegei, who has been competing since 2010, competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, finishing 44th.
