Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in critical condition in a Kenyan hospital, after being doused with petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend.
The 33-year-old athlete, who recently competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, sustained severe burns to over 75% of her body, according to police reports.
The incident occurred on Sunday in Endebess town, located in western Kenya, where Cheptegei had been training.
Local authorities report that the attack happened outside her home, where neighbours intervened and rescued her after hearing the commotion.
The alleged assailant, who also sustained severe burns during the altercation, is currently receiving treatment at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret alongside Cheptegei.
Jeremiah Ole Kosiom, the local police chief, told journalists that the couple had been quarrelling before the attack.
“During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her,” Kosiom explained.
Cheptegei, originally from a region just across the border in Uganda, had recently purchased land in Trans Nzoia county, where she built a house to be near Kenya’s renowned athletic training centres.
It is believed that the couple had been involved in a dispute over the property, which may have contributed to the violent altercation.
As the investigation continues, there are calls for more robust protective measures for women in sports, especially those training in regions where such incidents have become alarmingly common.
Cheptegei’s participation in the Paris Olympics, where she finished 44th in the marathon, also for her gold medal win at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
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