Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died in a Kenyan hospital after being doused in petrol and set fire by her former boyfriend.
Owen Menach, a spokesperson at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City, where she received treatment after sustaining 80% burns on her body, confirmed she died early Thursday morning after all her organs failed.
She was fully sedated and still in the intensive care unit with 30% burns, but was “improving and stable,” Menach said.
The 33-year-old’s ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, bought a container of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze during a disagreement at her house on Sunday, Trans Nzoia County Police said.
Her parents said that their daughter had purchased land in Trans Nzoia, a county in Western Kenya, to be close to the county’s numerous athletic training centres.
A report filed by the local chief said that the couple was heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.
The Ugandan Athletics Federation paid tribute to Cheptegei 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.”
Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare called the attack “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete”.
Cheptegei was a long-distance runner, competing in marathons and 10,000m races.
She finished 44th in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a time of over two hours.
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