Former Ugandan Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei Dies

By Emmanuel Wakoli,

Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei dies from burns after attack by boyfriend hours before planned airlift to Nairobi hospital.

Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei who tragically suffered severe burns in a domestic violence incident has passed away. Cheptegei, a marathon runner who represented Uganda at the Paris Olympic Games, succumbed to her injuries at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.

The recent news of 2024 Paris Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei fighting for her life in the hospital has brought attention to the alarming rise in domestic violence cases against female athletes, some of which have tragically ended in death. 

Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the women’s marathon event in Paris, was involved in a violent altercation with her boyfriend at her home in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County.
Trans Nzoia County’s police commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, confirmed that the suspect sustained serious injuries after being caught in the flames.