Rebecca Cheptegei: Renowned Olympic marathon athlete Rebecca Cheptegei of Uganda tragically died on Thursday following severe burns she received in a domestic violence incident. Dickson Ndiema, the athlete’s boyfriend, set the 33-year-old athlete on fire after a furious confrontation over a land dispute. Cheptegei passed away in a Kenyan hospital while undergoing treatment for 80% burns. She had last month participated in the Paris Olympics 2024.
Rebecca Cheptegei’s Fight for Life
Rebecca Cheptegei and her boyfriend lived in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County, where the horrifying occurrence took place on Sunday. The pair reportedly quarrelled over a land dispute before Ndiema bought a jerrican of fuel, doused Cheptegei with it, and set her on fire, according to local police reports. Both received burns, and Cheptegei’s injuries turned deadly when she was receiving care at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. However, her boyfriend, Ndiema is being treated at the same facility as well.
Ugandan Athletics Federation Calls for Justice
The Ugandan Athletics Federation expressed its grief on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “BREAKING NEWS, 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.”
Rebecca Cheptegei’s Journey in Athletics
When Rebecca Cheptegei first started competing in sports in 2010, she was particularly good at middle-distance running. Later on, she switched to long-distance competitions, especially marathons, where she saw great success. She qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris with a personal best time of 2:22:47 at the Abu Dhabi Marathon in 2022, where she placed 44th in the women’s marathon. With a time of 2:31:21, she won the Padova Marathon in Italy in 2022, which was a major career accomplishment.
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