Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Dies in Arson Attack

Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner who recently competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, has died after suffering severe burns from an attack by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, in Kenya. The incident occurred over a land dispute, during which Ndiema allegedly poured gasoline on Cheptegei and set her on fire, resulting in burns covering 75 to 80 percent of her body. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she succumbed to organ failure. This tragic event highlights a disturbing trend of gender-based violence in East Africa, as Cheptegei is the third elite female athlete to die under similar circumstances in recent years. The Uganda Athletics Federation condemned the attack and called for justice, while Kenyan sports officials emphasized the need for action against gender violence in society. Cheptegei had previously set a Ugandan record for the fastest women's marathon in 2022 and finished 44th in the recent Olympic marathon.