Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died in a Kenyan hospital where she was being treated after suffering 80% burns on his body due to an attack by her partner.
A hospital spokesman, Owen Menach, confirmed her death on Thursday. Cheptegei received treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret town.
Cheptegei was a distance runner who finished 44th in the women’s marathon Olympics in Paris 2024.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said on Monday that Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, bought a jerry can of petrol, poured it on her and set her on fire during a dispute on Sunday. Ndiema was also burnt and treated at the same hospital.
Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be close to the county’s many athletic training centres.
A report filed by the local chief says the couple were heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.