Olympic Runner Dies After Boyfriend Allegedly Sets Her on Fire

Tragedy struck the athletic world this week as Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei succumbed to severe burns after her boyfriend allegedly doused her in gasoline and set her on fire. Cheptegei, 33, died on Thursday at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, with burns covering 80% of her body. The horrific incident has shocked both the sporting community and the broader public.

The attack occurred following a dispute between Cheptegei and her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, outside their home in Trans Nzoia, Kenya. According to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom, the altercation took place shortly after Cheptegei returned home from church with her two children. Witnesses reported hearing the couple arguing before Ndiema allegedly poured a liquid, believed to be gasoline, on Cheptegei and set her ablaze.

Key Details:

• Rebecca Cheptegei recently competed in the Paris Olympics marathon, placing 44th, and was a gold medalist at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.

• Neighbors rushed to extinguish the flames and rescue Cheptegei, but her injuries were too severe.

• It remains unclear whether Ndiema, who was also injured and treated at a hospital, has been officially charged with any crimes.

Cheptegei’s death comes amid increasing concerns over domestic violence in Kenya and neighboring Uganda. A government survey revealed that nearly 34% of Kenyan girls and women aged 15-49 have been victims of physical violence, with married women facing even higher risks. Cheptegei, as a successful athlete, was particularly vulnerable to such threats due to her wealth and status.

Joan Chelimo, founder of the nonprofit Tirop’s Angels, which was created to combat domestic violence in the athletic community, highlighted this issue in her comments to ESPN. “They get into these traps of predators who pose in their lives as lovers,” Chelimo warned, underscoring the danger faced by many female athletes in the region.

This is not the first case of domestic violence against an Olympic athlete in East Africa. In 2021, Olympic runner Agnes Tirop was brutally murdered, allegedly by her husband. Tirop’s tragic death, much like Cheptegei’s, serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of domestic violence faced by women in the region, regardless of their fame or success.

As authorities continue their investigation into Cheptegei’s death, her passing casts a dark shadow over the athletic world and raises urgent questions about the safety of women, especially high-profile athletes, in East Africa.

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