A Ugandan athlete who appeared in the 2024 Paris Olympics has died after reportedly being set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya.
As previously reported by PEOPLE, distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, suffered 75 percent burns on her body after her boyfriend allegedly doused her in gasoline and set her on fire at her home in Trans Nzoia County in western Kenya on Sunday, Sept. 1, police said, per the Associated Press, BBC News and ESPN.
On Thursday, Sept. 5, it was reported Cheptegei had died from her injuries, per local outlets the Daily Nation, The Standardand The Star.
Rebecca Cheptegei at the Discovery 10km road race in Kapchorwa, Uganda Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.
AP Photo
Per the Nation, Dr. Owen Menach, who is the Director of Clinical Services and Surgery at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, confirmed the sad news, announcing the athlete died at around 5 a.m. local time from “full organ failure.”
Family member, Dr. Tony Sabila, also confirmed to Nation Sport that Cheptegei had died.
“It is true that we lost our sister this morning although the doctors tried to save her life and I was there personally,” Sabila said.
The Uganda Athletics Federation led tributes on X (formerly known as Twitter), posting, “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,” 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 Commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, said Monday that the attack happened during a dispute between Cheptegei and her boyfriend Dickson Ndiema.
“The couple were heard quarreling outside their house,” he told journalists, per the BBC. “During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her.”
Ndiemma also sustained serious burns in the fire. The pair were put out by neighbors and transported to MTRH for specialized treatment.
The couple were described as having been heard arguing over the land the home was built on before the incident, per a report filed by the local police obtained by AP.
Kosiom told The Standard, “[Ndiema] is believed to have sneaked into the compound at around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday while the wife and the children were in Church. Upon returning, Dickson, who had procured petrol, began pouring it on Rebecca before he set her ablaze.”
Cheptegei finished in 44th place in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August. She’d previously won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
