Uganda Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Ex-Boyfriend Set Her on Fire

The Ugandan Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei33 years old, she died for the burns she suffered after being attacked by her ex-partner. The president of the Ugandan Olympic Committee announced this, four days after the man set her on fire in Kenya.

“We have learned of the sad passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei following a violent attack by her boyfriend. May her soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women,” she wrote on X Donald Rukaredeploring “a cowardly and senseless act that led to the loss of a great athlete.”

Cross-country skier Cheptegei ended up in intensive care in a Kenyan hospital after being doused with petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. Police said the athlete was attacked after her former Kenyan partner Dickson Verse Marangach He had sneaked into her home in Endebess, Trans-Nzoia West County, around 2pm last Sunday, taking advantage of the fact that the woman and her children were in church.

“Marangach, who had procured petrol, began pouring it on Rebecca before setting her alight,” according to the police reconstruction, adding that the man was also engulfed in flames. Neighbours rescued the couple, who were taken to the nearby Kitale County Referral Hospital: the two, admitted with “multiple burns”, were then transferred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital where Cheptegei had been transferred to the intensive care unit since Monday.

The Curse of Eldoret

More horror at Eldorethe world capital of the marathon, already touched by other tragedies in the past. Last February 13, not far from Eldoret, the world record holder for the marathon Kelvin Kiptum had died in a car, in circumstances never clarified, together with his coach. The Ugandan lived in Eldoret Benjamin Kiplagatwho represented his country in Rio 2016: stabbed to death by two thugs last New Year’s Eve. Agnes Tirop she was also a champion, especially in cross: she had won 3 world titles and lived in Iten, which is about thirty kilometers from Eldoret. She died in her home three years ago, but her ex-husband, Ibrahim Kiprochis on trial for attempted murder. In 2011 the first Kenyan Olympic marathon champion, Samuel Wanjiruhad died not far from Eldoret after a strange fall from the balcony of his house, following an argument with his wife.