Tragic end for Olympian Cheptegei amid land dispute in Kenya
Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan runner, passed away after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. According to the BBC, the athlete could not be saved.
5 September 2024 10:48
Rebecca Cheptegei participated in this year's Olympic Games in Paris, where she competed in the marathon and finished in 44th place. After returning to Africa, she moved to Kenya to continue her training. None of her loved ones could have predicted what would happen at the beginning of September.
On September 2, Cheptegei was admitted to the hospital with severe burns covering 75 percent of her body. The police determined that she was attacked by her ex-boyfriend, who doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. Despite immediate efforts to save her life, on Thursday, September 5, the BBC reported that Cheptegei had passed away.
Land dispute the cause of the tragedy
British journalists, citing a local administration report, stated that Cheptegei and her ex-boyfriend were arguing over a piece of land. The former partner of the athlete was also hospitalized, but his injuries were not as severe as Cheptegei's, and his life was not in danger.
"A report filed by a local administrator alleged the athlete and her ex-partner had been wrangling over a piece of land. Police say an investigation is under way," writes BBC.
Cheptegei's athletic career
Rebecca Cheptegei had been competing in marathons for over a decade. Among her achievements, she won a race in Padua and earned numerous podium finishes. Her best marathon time was 2:22:47.
