Recent Olympian Killed By Injuries Related To Burns In Latest Case of Domestic Abuse of Elite Female Runner

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport Photo 

Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan who finished 44th in the women's marathon at the Paris Olympic Games this summer, has tragically passed away Thursday morning in Kenya. She was 33.

This comes four days after Kenyan and Ugandan media reported Cheptegei was doused in petrol and set on fire by an ex-boyfriend, resulting in more than 75 percent of her body suffering from burns.

Owen Menach, senior director of clinical service Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, told Reuters Cheptegei "passed today morning at 5:30 am after her organs failed," and that a full report regarding the circumstance of her death would be released Thursday afternoon.

Multiple Kenyan and Ugandan newspapers reported that police said Cheptegei's attacker, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, snuck into Cheptegei's home while she and her children were attending church.

When Cheptegei returned home from church, Marangach began pouring fuel on her and set her on fire, causing them both to be burned. Both were eventually rescued by neighbors who rushed them to the hospital, The Star newspaper in Nairobi, Kenya reported.

BBC News reported Marangach remains in intensive care, but his condition was "improving and stable," Menach said.

"We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei OLY following a vicious attack by her boyfriend," Donald Rukare, President of Uganda's Olympic committee said on X. 

"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."

Chepetegi represented Uganda at several global championships since 2010, including three World Cross Country Championships, the 2021 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships and the 2023 World Championships last summer in Budapest.