Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Attack

Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has tragically died at the age of 33 after being set on fire by her former boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, in a suspected domestic violence incident in Kenya. Cheptegei suffered severe injuries, with 80% of her body burned, and succumbed to her injuries four days after the attack, which occurred shortly after she competed in the Paris Olympics. The assault, believed to have stemmed from a property dispute, was witnessed by her two daughters, prompting condemnation from athletics officials, including the Uganda Olympic Committee, who called it a 'cowardly and senseless act.' Marangach, who also sustained burns, is currently hospitalized. This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding gender-based violence in East Africa, with Cheptegei being the third female athlete to die under violent circumstances in recent years. The Uganda Athletics Federation has called for justice in the wake of her death.