Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies after being set on fire by boyfriend

Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died in hospital in Kenya after being set on fire by her boyfriend, as Amy Lewis reports

Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died in a Kenyan hospital after being doused in petrol and set fire by her boyfriend.

Owen Menach, a spokesperson at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City, where she received treatment after sustaining 80% burns on her body, confirmed she died early Thursday morning after all her organs failed.

The 33-year-old's partner Dickson Ndiema, bought a container of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze during a disagreement at her house on Sunday, Trans Nzoia County Police said.

Menach said Ndiema was still in the intensive care unit with burns over 30% of his body but was “improving and stable".

Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, told journalists at the hospital that he had lost a daughter who was “very supportive” and hopes to get justice.

Her parents said that their daughter had purchased land in Trans Nzoia, a county in Western Kenya, to be close to the county’s numerous athletic training centres.

A report filed by the local chief said that the couple was heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.

The Ugandan Athletics Federation paid tribute to her in a post on X, which said: "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence.

"As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in Peace."

Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare called the attack “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete".

Kenya's Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the government would ensure justice for Cheptegei.

“This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which in recent years has reared its ugly head in elite sporting circles,” he wrote in a statement.

Cheptegei was a long-distance runner, competing in marathons and 10,000m races.

She finished 44th in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a time of over two hours.

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