Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei tragically passed away at the age of 33 after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema. Reports stated that Cheptegei died after all her organs failed on September 4 at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. The incident occurred following a disagreement between the couple over land that Cheptegei’s house was built on.
The Uganda Athletics Federation and the country’s Olympic committee expressed their deepest condolences and called for justice for Cheptegei. Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom revealed that Ndiema, who also suffered burns during the incident, poured petrol on Cheptegei and set her ablaze during an altercation at their home in Trans Nzoia.
Prior to the tragic event, Cheptegei had competed as a long-distance and marathon runner in the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing in 44th place. She had a successful career as a professional athlete since 2010, winning various races including the Kampala 10,000 meter race in Uganda.
The devastating news of Cheptegei’s death sparked outrage and condemnation of violence against women. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing and preventing domestic violence. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline for confidential support.
The sports world mourns the loss of a talented athlete as investigations into the tragic incident continue.
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