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Olympic Runner Dies After Being Set On Fire By Boyfriend
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Olympic Runner Dies After Being Set On Fire By Boyfriend

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Rebecca Cheptegei, the Marathon runner who represented team Uganda at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, has died. The tragedy comes just four days after her boyfriend set her on fire after the couple had a dispute over a property. Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare officially announced Cheptegei’s death on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday (September 5).

Highlights
  • Rebecca Cheptegei, a marathon runner who represented Uganda at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, died after being set on fire by her boyfriend.
  • Her boyfriend allegedly poured petrol on her and set her ablaze during a dispute over property in Endebess, Kenya.
  • The Uganda Olympic Committee condemned the attack and called for swift justice, describing it as a 'cowardly and senseless act.'
  • Cheptegei sustained burns to 80% of her body and succumbed to multiple organ failures four days after the attack.
  • She had represented Uganda in various World Championships and won a gold medal at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2022.

“We have learned of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei OLY following a vicious attack by her boyfriend,” Rukare wrote. 

He added: “May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women

“This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure.”

Rebecca Cheptegei has died

Image credits: UgaAthletics2

The 33-year-old succumbed to the burns she suffered when her boyfriend poured petrol on her and set her ablaze in Kenya, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday.

Following her participation at the Olympics in Paris, France, last month, Cheptegei had been training in Kenya.

Many athletes from the East African region, including Uganda, often travel to Kenya for high-altitude training, particularly in areas like Iten, which is known for its world-class training environment for long-distance runners.

Image credits: Sam Mellish/Getty Images

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​​Cheptegei sustained burns to three-quarters of her body, the acting head of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in the Rift Valley city of Eldoret, Kenya, where she was being treated, told reporters on Tuesday (September 3).

According to Owen Menach, director of clinical services at MTRH, Cheptegei succumbed to multiple organ failures after suffering 80 percent burns from the attack

The athlete was set on fire in the small town of Endebess, Kenya, during a disagreement with her partner, Dickson Ndiema.

The tragedy comes just four days after her boyfriend set her on fire

STATEMENT ON THE PASSING ON OF UGANDAN ATHLETE REBECCA CHEPTEGEI pic.twitter.com/Y38SCHnnsN

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom said on Monday (September 2) that Ndiema bought a can of petrol, poured it on her, and set her on fire during their fight.

Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the country’s many athletic training centers, Sky News reported on Thursday.

A report filed by the local chief says the couple were heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.

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Image credits: UgaAthletics2

Officials revealed that Dickson had entered her property on Sunday (September 1) while Cheptegei was at church with her two children. He was allegedly armed with a can of petrol.

Upon attacking his girlfriend, effectively setting her ablaze, neighbors rushed to the scene and extinguished the flames, which left both the attacker and the victim covered in burns.

The long-distance runner was rushed to the hospital with 75% of her body covered in burns, while the accused boyfriend had burns over 30% of his body.

Uganda Olympic Committee’s Donald Rukare announced Cheptegei’s death on September 5

Image credits: rebeccacheptegei

The incident reportedly took place just weeks after Cheptegei participated in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th.

The Ugandan Olympic Committee called for swift action in a statement confirming Cheptegei’s death, as per Al Jazeera, writing: “We urge the relevant law enforcement agencies to take swift and decisive action to bring the perpetrator to justice for this cowardly and deplorable action.”

Cheptegei’s parents traveled to Trans-Nzoia, Kenya, and told local media that their daughter had bought land in the Kenyan county and built a house where she stayed for her training.

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Kenyan media reported that one of Cheptegei’s daughters witnessed the assault at her mother’s home.

“He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother,” Kenya’s The Standard quoted her as saying.

“I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbor who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible,” the grieving girl, who has not been identified in the media, said.

Cheptegei, a Marathon runner, represented team Uganda at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Image credits: UgaAthletics2

The Uganda Olympic Committee has since issued an official statement, reading: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rebecca CHEPTEGEI OLY who passed on early this morning.” 

It further stated: “We condole with the Family and entire sports Fraternity. May Rebecca’s gentle soul rest in eternal peace. 

“Together, let us stand united in saying NO to violence against women.”

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Image credits: Jiang Qiming/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Cheptegei finished in 44th place in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games behind the Dutch winner Sifan Hassan on August 11. 

In 2022, she won a gold medal at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The sportswoman has represented her country at the World Championships since 2010, including at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and World Athletics Championships. 

“That’s attempted murder,” a reader commented

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Andréa Oldereide

Andréa Oldereide

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I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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Andréa Oldereide

Andréa Oldereide

Writer, BoredPanda staff

I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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Karina Babenok

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As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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Karina Babenok

Karina Babenok

Author, BoredPanda staff

As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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Insomniac
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who do this should have it done back to them. Femicide is becoming a scourge in Kenya. Rest in peace, beautiful sister. The rest of us will go on and keep fighting the fight against the toxic evil that stole your life away. That disgusting POS.... I cannot think of a punishment bad enough for him. This, for some reason, is bringing back the Jyoti Singh case in India. When is this going to end?

Pedro Badan
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It actually infuriates me that such acts are still referred to as "domestic" (or "family") violence (not in this post, but elsewhere), as if they are somehow set apart from other acts of equivalent horrifying violence. Why don't the global headlines about this terrible act include the word "murder"? That's what this was. "Olympic Athlete Murdered By Pathetic Giant Baby Who Couldn't Handle Own Emotions." There, fixed it for you. RiP Rebecca 💔

Orysha
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not attempted murder, it's muder. Burn the guy alive, others may think twice about killing their girtlfriend.

Load More Comments
Insomniac
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who do this should have it done back to them. Femicide is becoming a scourge in Kenya. Rest in peace, beautiful sister. The rest of us will go on and keep fighting the fight against the toxic evil that stole your life away. That disgusting POS.... I cannot think of a punishment bad enough for him. This, for some reason, is bringing back the Jyoti Singh case in India. When is this going to end?

Pedro Badan
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It actually infuriates me that such acts are still referred to as "domestic" (or "family") violence (not in this post, but elsewhere), as if they are somehow set apart from other acts of equivalent horrifying violence. Why don't the global headlines about this terrible act include the word "murder"? That's what this was. "Olympic Athlete Murdered By Pathetic Giant Baby Who Couldn't Handle Own Emotions." There, fixed it for you. RiP Rebecca 💔

Orysha
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not attempted murder, it's muder. Burn the guy alive, others may think twice about killing their girtlfriend.

Load More Comments
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