Ugandan Olympic Athlete Dies After Being Burned By Her Boyfriend

Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, a Ugandan Olympic athlete lost her life at a Kenyan hospital after her partner burned her in an attack. She was given treatment after her body was 80% burnt. 

She Had A Heated Argument 

The athlete’s parents revealed that their daughter purchased land in Trans Nzoia to be close to the county’s athletic training centers. As per AP news agency, Before the attack, she had a heated argument over a land dispute with her partner. 

A spokesperson at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City, Owen Menach, confirmed that Cheptegei died early morning after her organs stopped working. Moreover, She was completely sedated when she was admitted to the hospital.

Rebecca Cheptegei is a long-distance runner known for her achievements in various distance events. She has gained recognition for her performances in both track and road races. 

Before the fatal attack that took her life, The long-distance runner finished in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics in less than a month. She secured the 44th place.

Cheptegei is notably the wife of Joshua Cheptegei, the Ugandan long-distance runner and world champion.

“We Condemn Such Acts”

As per India Today, The Ugandan Athletics Federation posted about Cheptegei’s death on X, “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.” 

Cheptegei achieved notable success in marathon events, including winning the Padova Marathon in Italy in 2022 with a time of 2:31:21, marking her first major marathon victory.

Donald Rukare, a Uganda Olympic Committee President called the attack “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.”

In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds. Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was discovered dead, with a post-mortem examination revealing she had been strangled in 2022. 

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