Moments of anxiety for the 33-year-old Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei from Uganda, Africa, as she is being treated at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Kenya with burns all over her body. Her condition is considered critical.
Assaulted by her partner
According to police, Cheptegei – who took part in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics – was set on fire by her partner, who “bought petrol and doused her after an argument”.
The criminal incident took place in Trans-Nzoia County where the athlete trains.
The suspect also suffered burns
According to police officers, the main suspect in causing her extensive burns is her partner, Nixon Diema, from Kenya. The alleged assailant also suffered burns and is being treated in Eldoret town.
The number one suspect remains in the sights of the authorities despite the fact that he also has burns from the attack.
We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her pic.twitter.com/rgnWvgTpkb
— Uganda Athletics Federation-UAF (@UgaAthletics2) September 3, 2024
The Uganda Sports Federation says: “We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed in the Olympics, has been seriously injured and is being treated at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret following an incident which includes her Kenyan boyfriend.’
The 33-year-old’s parents said the couple were fighting over the property Cheptegei bought to be close to the many sports training centers in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County.
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