Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is fighting for her life after her boyfriend allegedly poured petrol over her and set her on fire.
Cheptegei, who placed 44th for Uganda in the women’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Games, is in critical condition with burns covering more than 75% of her body following the attack outside her home in Kenya.
According to Trans Nzoia County’s police commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, Cheptegei’s partner purchased a can of petrol, doused her with it, and ignited the flames after a dispute concerning the land on which her home was built.
“The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her,” he told the Standard newspaper in Kenya. “The suspect was also caught by the fire and sustained serious burns.”
Cheptegei, 33, was reportedly rescued by neighbors before both she and her attacker were transported to Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
The Ugandan Athletics Federation also shared news of the attack on social media.
“We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalised at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret,” it said in a statement. “This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her.”
Cheptegei, who won the mountain race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand in 2022, is the latest victim of attacks against female athletes in Kenya.
In October 2021, Agnes Tirop, a two-time world 10km bronze medallist and fourth-place finisher in the 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics, was discovered stabbed to death in Iten.
In April 2022, Damaris Mutua, who competed for Bahrain, was found strangled with a pillow over her face in the same town.