September 05, (THEWILL) – Ugandan Olympic athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, has died after she was severely burned by her partner over a land dispute.
The marathon runner, 33, was taken to hospital in Kenya after she was doused in petrol by her boyfriend on Sunday, police said.
Dr. Owen Menach, Acting Director of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, said “We lost her after all her organs failed” on Wednesday night.
“We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, 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,” the Ugandan Athletics Federation posted on X:
Uganda’s Olympic Committee Chief, Donald Rukare, also said: “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.”
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, on Monday, said Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, bought a can of petrol, poured it on her and set her on fire during a disagreement.
Ndiema also sustained burn wounds and was admitted to the same hospital, police said.
Cheptegei’s parents said their 33-year-old daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the county’s many athletic training centres.
According to the local chief, the couple were heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.
Cheptegei recently competed in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th.
According to the Paris Olympics website, she qualified for her Olympic debut in the marathon after setting a personal best of 2.22.47 at the Abu Dhabi Marathon in December 2022. She also finished 14th in the marathon at the 2023 World Championships.
