Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died after suffering severe burns in a brutal attack by her boyfriend, hospital officials confirmed on Thursday. Cheptegei, 33, who competed in the 2020 Paris Olympics, sustained burns to over 75% of her body after being doused in petrol and set on fire in Kenya. She died in the early hours of Thursday due to organ failure.
Cheptegei’s death, which highlights the ongoing issue of violence against sportswomen in Kenya, is the third such killing of a female athlete in the country since October 2021. Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances of her death, and a full report is expected soon.
Her death follows the murder of fellow Olympian Agnes Tirop in 2021, whose case spurred the creation of “Tirop’s Angels,” a group aimed at combating domestic violence against female athletes. Joan Chelimo, one of the group’s founders, noted the risks female athletes face from men drawn to their wealth.
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