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English Breaking: Ugandan Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Brutal Attack by Ex-Boyfriend
Breaking: Ugandan Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Brutal Attack by Ex-Boyfriend
Ugandan Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei has passed away, days after being doused in petrol and set ablaze by a former boyfriend, Ugandan and Kenyan officials confirm.
The 33-year-old athlete, who represented Uganda at the Paris Olympics, succumbed to severe burns sustained during the attack, which occurred last Sunday.
Cheptegei had been living and training in north-west Kenya, close to Kenya’s renowned athletic training centers. Local authorities report that she was attacked after returning home from church.
It is alleged that a dispute over land ownership with her ex-partner led to the fatal altercation.
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The athlete had been receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where doctors battled to save her life. Dr. Owen Menach, the head of the hospital, confirmed her death, stating that her organs had ultimately failed.
Meanwhile, the ex-boyfriend, who also suffered burns during the attack, remains in intensive care.
“This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete,” said Donald Rukare, head of Uganda’s Olympic Committee, in a statement. “Her legacy will endure, but we must stand together against such acts of violence.”
The attack on Cheptegei echoes similar tragic cases of violence against female athletes in the region. In recent years, Kenyan athletes Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua were also murdered, with their partners named as suspects.
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Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics, was a celebrated figure in Ugandan athletics. She also claimed gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand.
Uganda’s athletics federation expressed deep sorrow, stating on X: “We condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace.”
As the investigation continues, the sporting community is mourning the loss of yet another talented athlete, taken too soon by domestic violence.
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