The Ugandan Olympic Committee president known as the assault on Rebecca Cheptegei “a cowardly and mindless act that has led to the lack of an amazing athlete.”
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.
The nation’s sports activities minister mentioned authorities should do extra to fight gender-based violence.
A spokesperson at Moi Instructing and Referral Hospital in Eldoret metropolis, Owen Menach, confirmed Cheptegei’s loss of life on Thursday. Menach mentioned 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, informed journalists on the hospital that he had misplaced a daughter who was “very supportive” and hopes to get justice.
“As it’s now, the legal who harmed my daughter is a assassin and I’m but to see what the safety officers are doing, the daddy mentioned. “He’s nonetheless free and may even flee.”
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom mentioned 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 mentioned Ndiema was nonetheless within the intensive care unit with burns over 30% of his physique however was “bettering and steady.”
Cheptegei’s dad and mom mentioned 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 mentioned 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’re deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning who tragically fell sufferer to home violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and name for justice. Might her soul relaxation In Peace.”
Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare known as the assault “a cowardly and mindless act that has led to the lack of an amazing athlete.”
Kenya’s Sports activities Minister Kipchumba Murkomen mentioned the federal government would guarantee justice for the sufferer.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder that we should do extra to fight gender-based violence in our society, which in recent times has reared its ugly head in elite sporting circles,” he wrote in a press release.
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 said that she was strangled. In 2021, lengthy distance runner Agnes Tirop was stabbed to loss of life at her dwelling. Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was arrested and charged with homicide, the case is ongoing.
