Ugandan marathon runner and Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei tragically passed away after being allegedly set on fire by her boyfriend. The 33-year-old athlete, who represented Uganda at the Paris 2024 Olympics and held the Ugandan marathon record, was hospitalized with severe burns on 75% of her body following a dispute with her partner outside their residence.
The Uganda Athletics Federation confirmed the heartbreaking news, stating that Cheptegei's boyfriend had poured petrol on her and set her on fire. Despite efforts to save her, Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries on September 5 at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.
