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Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei dies after petrol attack
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Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei dies after petrol attack

A Ugandan athlete competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics has died after she was reportedly set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya.

As previously reported by PEOPLE, long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, suffered 75 percent burns to her body after her boyfriend allegedly doused her with gasoline and set her on fire at her home in Trans Nzoia County in western Kenya on Sunday, Sept. 1, police said, according to the Associated Press, BBC News and ESPN.

On Thursday, September 5, it was reported that Cheptegei had died from her injuries, according to local media. Daily Nation, The Standard And The Star.

Rebecca Cheptegei at the Discovery 10 km road race in Kapchorwa, Uganda, Friday, January 20, 2023.

AP photo


According to the NationDr Owen Menach, Director of Clinical Services and Surgery at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, confirmed the sad news, revealing that the athlete passed away at around 5am local time from “complete organ failure”.

Family member, Dr. Tony Sabila, also confirmed National sport that Cheptegei had died.

“It is true that we lost our sister this morning, despite the doctors trying to save her life and me being there personally,” Sabila said.

The Uganda Athletics Federation paid tribute on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, who passed away early this morning. She 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 post concluded.

Rebecca Cheptegei at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

FERENC ISZA/AFP via Getty


The update comes after Trans Nzoia County police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom said on Monday that the attack occurred during a disagreement between Cheptegei and her boyfriend Dickson Ndiema.

“The couple were heard arguing outside their home,” he told reporters, according to the BBC. “During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid over the woman before burning her.”

Ndiemma also suffered severe burns in the fire. The couple was extinguished by neighbours and taken to MTRH for specialised treatment.

According to a local police report obtained by AP, the two allegedly had an argument over the land on which the house was built before the incident.

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Kosiom told The Standard“(Ndiema) is said to have sneaked into the compound around 2pm on Sunday while the wife and children were at church. When he returned, Dickson, who had fetched petrol, began pouring it on Rebecca before setting her alight.”

Cheptegei finished 44th in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August. She previously won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.