Athlete Attacked and Set on Fire by Boyfriend
An Ugandan athlete residing in Kenya was viciously attacked and set on fire by her boyfriend, resulting in severe burns covering 75% of her body. Rebecca Cheptegei, a distance runner who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was assaulted in her home in Trans Nzoia County.
According to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom, Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, purchased petrol, doused her with it, and set her on fire during a dispute on Sunday. Both Cheptegei and Ndiema sustained burn injuries and are currently undergoing specialized treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Cheptegei’s parents revealed that their daughter had bought land in Trans Nzoia to be closer to the county’s numerous athletic training facilities. A local chief’s report indicated that the couple was arguing over the land where their house was built prior to the tragic incident.
Previous Tragic Incidents in the Athletic Community
This is not the first instance of violence within the athletic community. In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was discovered dead with stab wounds. Additionally, in 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead, with a postmortem report confirming that she was strangled.
