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Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, aged 33, tragically died days after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, BBC News reports. Cheptegei, who recently competed in the Paris Olympics, suffered severe burns after being attacked outside her home in north-west Kenya. Local authorities reported that the incident occurred following a dispute over a piece of land between Cheptegei and her ex-partner. Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his grief, calling for justice and emphasizing her supportive role in the family. Dr. Owen Menach, head of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, confirmed that Cheptegei's organs failed due to the severity of her burns. Uganda's athletics federation expressed sorrow and condemned the act of domestic violence in a post on X. The ex-boyfriend, also suffering from burns but in stable condition, remains in intensive care at the same hospital. The local police confirmed that the couple was heard arguing before the fatal attack, and the investigation is ongoing. Cheptegei had built a home in Kenya, near major athletic training centers, to advance her career. Her death follows the tragic killings of fellow athletes Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, whose partners were also identified as suspects.
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