Rebecca Cheptegei, a ugandan olympic athlete dies at the age of 33 after suffering severe burns. She was attacked by her partner, who set her on fire during an argument. Cheptegei had been receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, where 80% of her body was burned. Despite being sedated upon arrival, her organs eventually failed, leading to her death early in the morning.
Details of the Attack
Owen Menach, a spokesperson at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city, confirmed her death. He stated that Cheptegei’s organs failed after she was admitted and sedated.
Recent Competition
Cheptegei had recently competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, finishing in 44th place.
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Family’s Statement
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, expressed his grief, describing his daughter as “very supportive” and hoping for justice.
Cheptegei had recently bought land in Trans-Nzoia to be closer to athletic training centers. Her parents mentioned that the argument was about the land where their house was built. Last month, Cheptegei finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics and was 14th at the world championships in Budapest last year. In 2022, she won the mountain race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand.
Incident Report
According to Trans-Nzoia County police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom, Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, had an argument with her over land. During the dispute, Ndiema poured petrol on her and set her on fire. Both Cheptegei and Ndiema were taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. Ndiema also suffered serious burns.
Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympics Committee, expressed his grief on social media, condemning the violence and calling it a “cowardly and senseless act.” He highlighted Cheptegei’s legacy and the loss of a great athlete.
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