A sports site in Paris has been renamed in honor of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who was tragically burned alive by her ex-boyfriend.
Cheptegei, 33, suffered severe burns to 80 percent of her body after being set on fire at her home on Sunday, September 1. She died from her injuries on Thursday, September 5, at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced the renaming of the sports site to pay tribute to Cheptegei. She said: “Paris will not forget her. We will dedicate a sports site to her memory and uphold the message of equality promoted by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. She dazzled us here in Paris. Her beauty, strength, and freedom were likely intolerable to the person who committed this murder.”
Cheptegei had competed in the marathon at the Olympics last month and finished in 44th place. Kenyan police confirmed that she was attacked at her home in western Trans Nzoia County, near the Ugandan border, where she had recently moved for better training facilities.
Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom reported that her former partner, Dickson Ndiema, bought petrol, poured it on her, and set her ablaze during an argument. At the scene, police found a five-liter jerry can, a bag, and a burned phone.
Dr. Owen Menach, acting director of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, said, “Unfortunately, we lost her after all her organs failed.”
Donald Rukare, President of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), expressed sadness on X, saying, “We have learned of the tragic passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. This cowardly act has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will endure.”
The UOC urged law enforcement to act swiftly to bring the perpetrator to justice. Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, commented, “Our sport has lost a talented athlete under the most tragic circumstances. Rebecca was an incredibly versatile runner with a lot to give.”
Rebecca’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, mentioned earlier this week that the attack was preceded by a dispute over land at Endebes in Trans Nzoia. He also revealed that Rebecca’s children are fathered by another man living in Uganda. He questioned why Ndiema would target his daughter and mentioned that the case is under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya.
