Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies after being set on fire by her partner

MADRID 5 (EUROPA PRESS)

Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who took part in the marathon at the recent Paris Olympics, died on Thursday after being the victim of a sexist attack on Sunday by her partner, who set her on fire after pouring a flammable liquid on her.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei,” the Ugandan Athletics Federation posted on social media X, calling for justice for the incident.

The president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, Donald Rukare, also confirmed the death of the athlete on social media. “A cowardly and senseless act has led us to lose a great athlete. Her legacy will live on,” he said in another message.

Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the last Olympic marathon, was attacked by her boyfriend in Kenya. Neighbours extinguished the flames and took both the victim and the attacker to hospital, although the athlete suffered burns on 80 per cent of her body.