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Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is fighting for her life after her boyfriend allegedly poured petrol on her and set her on fire.
Cheptegei, who finished 44th for Uganda in the women’s race at the Paris 2024 Games, is in critical condition after suffering burns to more than 75 per cent of her body following the attack outside her home in Kenya.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said Cheptegei’s partner bought a can of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze after a disagreement over the land where her house was built.
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“The couple were heard arguing outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring liquid on the woman before setting her on fire,” he told Kenya’s Standard newspaper. “The suspect was also caught in the flames and suffered severe burns.”
Cheptegei, 33, was reportedly rescued by neighbours before she and her attacker were taken to Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
The Uganda Athletics Federation also reported the attack on social media.
“We regret to announce that our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has sustained serious injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching Hospital in Eldoret,” the association said in a statement. “This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend who poured petrol and set the victim on fire.”
Cheptegei, who won the mountain race at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand, is the latest victim of attacks on female athletes in Kenya.
In October 2021, Agnes Tirop, a two-time world 10km bronze medallist who also finished fourth in the 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics, was found stabbed to death in Iten.
In April 2022, Damaris Mutua, who was competing for Bahrain, was found strangled with a pillow over her face in the same city.
