Rebecca Cheptegei is seen competing on the Discovery 10km street race in Kapchorwa, Uganda, on Jan. 20, 2023.
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NAIROBI, Kenya — Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died at a Kenyan hospital the place she was being handled after 80% of her physique was burned in an assault by her accomplice. She was 33.
A spokesperson at Moi Educating and Referral Hospital in Eldoret metropolis, Owen Menach, confirmed Cheptegei’s demise on Thursday. Menach stated the long-distance runner died early within the morning after her organs failed. She had been totally sedated on admission on the hospital.
Cheptegei competed within the girls’s marathon on the Paris Olympics lower than a month earlier than the assault. She completed in forty fourth place.
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, instructed journalists on the hospital that he had misplaced a daughter who was “very supportive” and hopes to get justice.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom stated Monday that Cheptegei’s accomplice, Dickson Ndiema, purchased a can of gasoline, poured it on her and set her ablaze throughout a disagreement Sunday. Ndiema was additionally burned and was being handled on the identical hospital.
Menach stated Ndiema was nonetheless within the intensive care unit with burns over 30% of his physique however was “improving and stable.”
Cheptegei’s dad and mom stated their daughter purchased land in Trans Nzoia to be close to the county’s many athletic coaching facilities. A report filed by the native chief stated the 2 had been heard combating over the land the place her home was constructed earlier than the assault.
The Uganda Athletics Federation eulogized Cheptegei on the social platform X, writing, “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 referred to as the assault “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.”
In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was discovered useless with stab wounds. In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was discovered useless and a postmortem report acknowledged that she was strangled. In 2021, lengthy distance runner Agnes Tirop was stabbed to demise at her house. Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was arrested and charged with homicide, the case is ongoing.
