"Lost the fight"

Olympic runner dies after fire attack

Rebecca Cheptegei succumbed to her severe burn injuries.

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is dead. She was doused with petrol and set on fire on Sunday. According to the police, the perpetrator was her own boyfriend. The burn wounds were too fatal. Cheptegei has now died of her injuries, as the president of the Uganda Olympic Committee confirmed to X.

"We have learned of the sad demise of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei... following a vicious attack by her boyfriend," read the message from Donald Rukare, President of the Uganda Olympic Committee, on X.

Just three weeks ago, the runner had competed at the Olympic Games in Paris. She finished 44th in the women's marathon. Now there is sad certainty: the 33-year-old did not survive the brutal fire attack against her. 

"This is a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will live on," emphasized Rukare.

In front of the children
The tragedy occurred on Sunday. According to a police report, the suspect identified as Dickson Ndiema Marangach had entered Rebecca Cheptegei's property while she was at church with her two children.

When the marathon runner returned to her home, he doused her with gasoline and set her on fire in front of her two daughters (aged 9 and 11), The Standard reported.

According to the hospital in Eldoret, Cheptegei was admitted to intensive care with burns to about 80 percent of her body surface. She had also inhaled flames and suffered internal burns. In the end, the injuries were too severe and the 33-year-old lost the fight for her life.