Rebecca Cheptegei: Olympic runner who was allegedly set on fire by boyfriend dies

The Ugandan athlete, who competed at the Paris Olympics, was fighting for her life after the shocking attack, allegedly carried out by her boyfriend Dickson Ndiema. A Ugandan official has now confirmed that Ms Cheptegei has succumbed to her injuries.

Police previously said that the alleged incident saw Mr Ndiema buy a can of petrol, pour it over the 33-year-old long-distance runner and set her alight after a disagreement between the two at her home in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday, September 1. A police report states that witnesses heard the couple fighting before the alleged attack over the land her home was built on, with Ms Cheptegei targeted as she returned home from church with her two children.

Cops also said that following the attack Ms Cheptegei was being treated for burns which covered 75% of her body, while the alleged attacker also suffered serious injuries. Both were being treated at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

Ms Cheptegei was an accomplished long-distance runner, having won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022. She competed in the Marathon event at the recent Paris Olympics, placing 44th.