Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has tragically passed away after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in a brutal @ttack.
The 33-year-old athlete, who competed in Paris, suffered severe b_rns after being doused with petrol and set ablaze.
She succumbed to her !njuries after several days of intensive treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.
Cheptegei, who lived and trained in Kenya, was reportedly att@cked after returning home from church.
Authorities believe the violence stemmed from a dispute over a piece of land between the athlete and her former partner.
Police are currently investigating the incident.
The horrific @ttack has sparked outrage, particularly amid growing concerns over violence against female athletes in Kenya.
Several similar cases have ended in the d€aths of promising sportswomen. Uganda’s athletics federation expressed their sorrow in a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically fell victim to domestic vi0lence. May her soul rest in peace.”
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Dr. Owen Menach, the head of the hospital where Cheptegei was being treated, confirmed that she d!ed after all her organs failed due to the severity of her injuries.
The ex-boyfriend, who was also injured in the incident, is currently in intensive care with less severe burns, and his condition is reportedly stable.
Rebecca Cheptegei was a well-respected athlete, having competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics and winning gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2022.
Her d£ath has brought attention to the growing violence against women in the region, following the murd£rs of fellow athletes Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, both at the hands of their partners.
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, has called for justice, describing the @ttack as the most inhumane act he has ever witnessed.
