Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is in critical condition after allegedly being set on fire by her former boyfriend in western Kenya.
According to the BBC, the 33-year-old athlete, who recently competed in the Paris Olympics, has suffered burns to over 75% of her body, according to local police.
The attack occurred at Cheptegei’s home in the small town of Endebess, where she had been training. Neighbors reportedly rescued her after the incident on Sunday.
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Jeremiah ole Kosiom, who is the local police chief, confirmed that the alleged attacker also sustained serious burns during the altercation, and both of them are currently being treated at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
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“The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her,” Kosiom said to reporters.
Cheptegei, originally from a region just across the Ugandan border, had purchased land in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County and built a home near the country’s renowned athletic training centers.
A local administrator reported that the couple had been in a dispute over the property, and police have launched an investigation, as that could be the reason behind Cheptegei’s attack from her boyfriend.
Cheptegei finished 44th in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics, and won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She is a brilliant athlete, yet the current situation could worsen and potentially see a decision made in relation to her career moving forward.
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This incident has raised alarm over the increasing violence against female athletes in Kenya, as just last year, Damaris Mutua, another sprinter, was found strangled in her home in the Rift Valley town of Iten, further highlighting concerns about the safety of women in sports.
Men have also been victims, and Ugandan athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to death by assailants in Eldoret.
