Olympic athlete dies days after being burned alive by ex-boyfriend

Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died days after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend.

The 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner, who competed in the recent Paris Olympics, suffered serious burns after the attack on Sunday.

Authorities in northwestern Kenya, where Cheptegei lives and trains, said she was targeted after returning home from church with her two daughters.

Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, said he had lost a “very supportive” daughter. Another Ugandan athlete, James Kirwa, told the BBC about her generosity and how she helped other runners financially.

A report filed by a local administrator alleges that the athlete and her ex-boyfriend fought over a piece of land. Police said an investigation is underway.

Cheptegei, who hails from an area just across the Ugandan border, is said to have bought a plot of land in Trans Nzoia county and built a house close to Kenya’s elite athletics training centres.

There are concerns about the growing violence against female athletes in Kenya. Cheptegei is the third to be killed since October 2021.

Speaking to journalists outside the hospital where she was treated, Mr Cheptegei asked the Kenyan government to ensure justice was served following his daughter’s death.

“We have lost our main breadwinner,” he added, wondering how her two children, aged 12 and 13, will “continue their education.”

Dr Owen Menach, director of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, told local media that the athlete died after all her organs shut down.

Kirwa, who visited Cheptegei in hospital, told the BBC she was “a very approachable person. [She] helped us financially and she brought me training shoes when she came back from the Olympics. She’s like a sister to me.”

The Uganda Athletics Federation said in a post on X: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of athlete Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning, who fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace.”

Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend was also taken to hospital in Eldoret – but suffered less serious burns. He remains in intensive care but his condition is “improving and stable”, Dr Menach said.

Earlier, local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom was quoted by local media as saying: “The couple was heard arguing outside their home. During the scuffle, the boyfriend was seen pouring liquid on the woman before setting her on fire.”

“This was a cowardly and senseless act that resulted in the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will live on,” Uganda Olympic Committee chief Donald Rukare speaks on X.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, the girl’s father said he had been praying “for justice for my daughter”, adding that he had never witnessed such an inhumane act in his life.

Cheptegei finished 44th in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics.

She also won a gold medal at the World Trail Running and Mountaineering Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2022.

Her death follows the murders of other East African athletes Agnes Tirop in 2021 and Damaris Mutua the following year, with their partners identified by authorities as prime suspects in both cases.

Tirop’s husband is now facing murder charges, which he denies, while the hunt for Mutua’s boyfriend continues.

Attacks on women have become a major concern in Kenya. According to a national survey, in 2022, at least 34% of women said they had experienced physical violence.

“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to combat gender-based violence, which increasingly affects even elite sports,” said Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen.

Attacks on athletes take place in that context, but there may be specific reasons why female athletes are targeted.

One theory is that these men feel increasingly vulnerable as these women become more successful.

Additionally, some have been accused of deliberately exploiting female athletes in hopes of exploiting their wealth.