Kenya - Olympic marathon runner, Rebecca Cheptegei, dies after boyfriend 'set her on fire' leaving her with 75% burns in petrol attack

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1830890380293726382

"Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is receiving treatment in hospital for 75 per cent burns after allegedly being sent on fire by her boyfriend.

Cheptegei had recently returned to Kenya following the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she represented Uganda in the marathon.

Police have confirmed Cheptegei was attacked in her house in the western Trans Nzoia County, where she had been training.

Cheptegei had allegedly been set on fire by her former boyfriend Dickson Ndiema.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said her former partner had bought a can of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze during a disagreement on Sunday."



Prayers for recovery.

 

[Rikissa]

Rebecca was not the first successful female athlete in Africa to have been killed by partner/former partner. Agnes Tirop was killed in October 2021, and Damaris Mutua in April 2022.
Rebecca has two children, it's not mentioned if the former partner is the father or not.

Rebecca Cheptegei attack: Ugandan athlete in Kenyan hospital after being doused in petrol

The 33-year-old distance runner is currently receiving treatment for 75% burns, police say.

www.bbc.com

Agnes Tirop: Husband arrested in Kenya after athlete's death

Record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death at her home on Wednesday.

www.bbc.com

Damaris Muthee Mutua: Murdered runner's career 'was picking up'

The career of Kenyan-born runner Damaris Muthee Mutua "was picking up" before she was found murdered aged 28 in Iten.

www.bbc.com

 

[LadyL]

Rebecca was not the first successful female athlete in Africa to have been killed by partner/former partner. Agnes Tirop was killed in October 2021, and Damaris Mutua in April 2022.
Rebecca has two children, it's not mentioned if the former partner is the father or not.

Rebecca Cheptegei attack: Ugandan athlete in Kenyan hospital after being doused in petrol

The 33-year-old distance runner is currently receiving treatment for 75% burns, police say.

www.bbc.com

Agnes Tirop: Husband arrested in Kenya after athlete's death

Record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death at her home on Wednesday.

www.bbc.com

Damaris Muthee Mutua: Murdered runner's career 'was picking up'

The career of Kenyan-born runner Damaris Muthee Mutua "was picking up" before she was found murdered aged 28 in Iten.

www.bbc.com

Rebecca is alive.

 

[airportwoman]

And the assailant was also seriously injured. I sure hope her children are okay, whether he's their father or not.

 

[Rikissa]

Rebecca is alive.

I should have written "injured or killed by partners" in my post, but unfortunately Rebecca has now died. She suffered 80% burns, and they very often lead to death. He suffered 30% burns.

The Star

The Star brings you breaking news, developing stories, politics, entertainment, lifestyle, sports and much more from Kenya and around the world, throughout the day.

www.the-star.co.ke

THe man who did this isn't the father of her children.

Ugandan Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is Dead

Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is dead. She died at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. Dr Owen Menach, the MTRH acting director, confirmed...

newscentral.africa

 

[Sarahlou]

Poor Rebecca, that's absolutely horrific.

 

[Luwin]

She's now passed away - awful!

Rebecca Cheptegei: Olympic athlete dies days after being set alight by ex-boyfriend

The 33-year-old Ugandan was doused in petrol after returning home from church.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

This tragedy is also commented in my country Poland.

From Polish MSM:

"Shortly after her death,
the story of this shocking crime was revealed.

The Kenyan newspaper The Standard reports that the woman was attacked by her ex-partner when she returned from church.

The incident was witnessed by her two daughters,
aged 9 and 11.

'He kicked me when I tried to run to save my mother.

I immediately called for help,
attracting a neighbor who tried to put out the flames with water,
but it was impossible'

- one of the girls described the attack."





REST IN PEACE

Olimpijka z Paryża zamordowana na oczach córek. Wstrząsające kulisy

W czwartek (05.09) świat obiegła informacja o śmierci ugandyjskiej olimpijki Rebekki Cheptegei, która została podpalona przez swojego byłego partnera. Okazuje się, że świadkami tego bestialskiego ataku były córki zmarłej 33-latki.

sportowefakty.wp.pl

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Earlier this week, the athlete's father claimed that his daughter and her ex-boyfriend were fighting over land at Endebess, a town in Kenya, before the attack took place.

Speaking to The Star, Mr Cheptegei said: "They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter," also revealing that her two children are fathered by another man living in Uganda.

The pair were allegedly set to appear before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kitale, Kenya, over a land tussle.

He added: "'Her attacker was a friend they met in Kenya and my daughter trusted him.

"They fell out recently but the suspect sneaked into her compound on Sunday afternoon, armed with five litres of petrol and hid in a poultry house.

"Rebecca was outside the house when the suspect appeared and immediately poured petrol on her before lighting the fire," he claimed.

Mr Cheptegei concluded: "My daughter called for help by asking her sister who was in the home to bring a blanket to put off the fire but the suspect who was armed with a machete chased her away and Rebecca burnt."

But now, photos of the alleged perpetrator have been released on social media by media.

Ex-boyfriend ‘who set Olympic runner on fire' pictured for first time as daughter reveals heartbreaking details

Rebecca Cheptegei competed in the women's marathon for Uganda at the 2024 Olympic games.

www.ladbible.com

 

[TTF14]

Earlier this week, the athlete's father claimed that his daughter and her ex-boyfriend were fighting over land at Endebess, a town in Kenya, before the attack took place.

Speaking to The Star, Mr Cheptegei said: "They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter," also revealing that her two children are fathered by another man living in Uganda.

The pair were allegedly set to appear before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kitale, Kenya, over a land tussle.

He added: "'Her attacker was a friend they met in Kenya and my daughter trusted him.

"They fell out recently but the suspect sneaked into her compound on Sunday afternoon, armed with five litres of petrol and hid in a poultry house.

"Rebecca was outside the house when the suspect appeared and immediately poured petrol on her before lighting the fire," he claimed.

Mr Cheptegei concluded: "My daughter called for help by asking her sister who was in the home to bring a blanket to put off the fire but the suspect who was armed with a machete chased her away and Rebecca burnt."

But now, photos of the alleged perpetrator have been released on social media by media.

Ex-boyfriend ‘who set Olympic runner on fire' pictured for first time as daughter reveals heartbreaking details

Rebecca Cheptegei competed in the women's marathon for Uganda at the 2024 Olympic games.

www.ladbible.com

This article says she has died .

 

[airportwoman]

I'm glad he also didn't harm the children, who I hope can be raised by people who love them.

 

[Snoopster]

As I went down the rabbit hole today about the murders of these female athletes I came across this fantastic documentary (posted by Bloomberg Originals 9 months ago) about Agnes Tirop's murder. One positive to come out of it was the formation of 'Tirop's Angels', a charity run by some fellow female runners/friends and family. They are trying to tackle violence against women in Kenya, and in particular educating young female athletes. These athletes are quite vulnerable when they are starting out since some men will want control of them, hoping to benefit from there future earnings.

Here is another great documentary. It's about what elite and hopeful distance running athletes go through in Kenya's training centres and the corruption of Kenyan officials.

ETA: as an aside, Rebecca, the runner who just died from burns, actually died in Kenya, not Uganda. Although she is Ugandan and competed for Uganda at the Olympics, she lived across the border in Kenya. This area of Kenya (the Great Rift Valley in western Kenya) is where most of Kenya's top distance runners come from and many international athletes train there too.

 

[LinasK]

I just read about this case last night and it upset me so much I had insomnia. What a horrible death, and such a tragedy when this young woman had just been an Olympian like two weeks ago...

 

[LadyL]

I should have written "injured or killed by partners" in my post, but unfortunately Rebecca has now died. She suffered 80% burns, and they very often lead to death. He suffered 30% burns.

The Star

The Star brings you breaking news, developing stories, politics, entertainment, lifestyle, sports and much more from Kenya and around the world, throughout the day.

www.the-star.co.ke

THe man who did this isn't the father of her children.

Ugandan Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is Dead

Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is dead. She died at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. Dr Owen Menach, the MTRH acting director, confirmed...

newscentral.africa

omg so sad
RIP Rebecca

 

[Snoopster]

I just read about this case last night and it upset me so much I had insomnia. What a horrible death, and such a tragedy when this young woman had just been an Olympian like two weeks ago...

Such a horrific death, only made intolerably worse by the fact that her children saw her burning and were prevented from helping her.
And to think that Rebecca's death is the third domestic violence death of an elite runner in Kenya in less than 3 years. Unthinkable.

 

[Snoopster]

As I've pondered these cases I came to the realization that I will never look at international long distance events through the same lens as before.

My sons competed in athletics at the local level, with one competing nationally. I volunteered at many a track meet. (I can set up hurdles with the best of them!) My sons were fortunate to compete against world class athletes like Damian Warner and Derek Drouin, both of whom ended up as gold medal Olympians. Both of these athletes were supported by the community and weren't taken advantage of. They weren't struggling with poverty. (Although Damian definitely came from a poor one-parent household, but the community rallied around him and many coaches volunteered their time to coach him.)

In contrast, these athletes from poor countries are desperate and so, so vulnerable to those who might take advantage of them. This is immensely in contrast to those of us who live in wealthier societies.

 

[acutename]

As I've pondered these cases I came to the realization that I will never look at international long distance events through the same lens as before.

My sons competed in athletics at the local level, with one competing nationally. I volunteered at many a track meet. My sons were fortunate to compete against world class athletes like Damian Warner and Derek Drouin, both of whom ended up as gold medal Olympians. Both of these athletes were supported by the community and weren't taken advantage of. They weren't struggling with poverty. (Although Damian definitely came from a poor one-parent household, but the community rallied around him and many coaches volunteered their time to coach him.)

These athletes from poor countries are desperate and so, so vulnerable to those who might take advantage of them. This is immensely in contrast to those of us who live in wealthier societies.

her own father called her "the bread winner" for the family and it is clear that she was supporting the children

'Running for her family' - Olympian mourned after vicious ...​

BBC
https://www.bbc.com › news › articles




1 day ago — Her father Joseph Cheptegei reiterated this when he said: "We have lost our breadwinner." He added that he was now worried about the two ...

 

[Snoopster]

her own father called her "the bread winner" for the family and it is clear that she was supporting the children
View attachment 529496

'Running for her family' - Olympian mourned after vicious ...​

View attachment 529497
BBC
https://www.bbc.com › news › articles




1 day ago — Her father Joseph Cheptegei reiterated this when he said: "We have lost our breadwinner." He added that he was now worried about the two ...

And herein lies the difference. While an athlete in a wealthy country gives up a possible income to train, in poor countries they train with the hope of earning an income down the road. There is no other job that they can earn a good wage at.
Everyone is hanging their hat on that athlete to help their family literally survive.

 

[airportwoman]

The mayor of Paris is proposing naming a local sports facility after her. It was the least they could do, to keep her memory alive.

Paris to honor Olympic runner killed in Kenya

Paris plans to name a sports facility in honor of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who died after she was set on fire by her boyfriend this week.

www.espn.com

 

[airportwoman]

Here are the full women's marathon results. Ms. Cheptegei finished in 44th place, in 2 hours 32 minutes 51 seconds.

https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/results/athletics/women-s-marathon/fnl-000100--