Rebecca Cheptegei died last Thursday
The man accused of fatally burning Ugandan Olympian, Rebecca Cheptegei, has died in hospital.
Cheptegei died last Thursday after she was severely injured following an alleged dispute with her ex-partner Dickson Ndiema over land in Kenya.
Ndiema died on Monday night at the intensive care unit where he had been admitted after also suffering injuries in the attack.
He was accused of buying a can of petrol, pouring it on her and setting her on fire during a disagreement.
Cheptegei suffered burns to 80 per cent of her body while Ndiema suffered 30 per cent burns.
The 33-year-old competed in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics where she finished 44th.
Following her death, president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn about Rebecca Cheptegei’s death following the horrible attack against her. Rebecca’s participation in the Paris 2024 women’s marathon was a source of inspiration, pride and joy.”
Cheptegei was a former sergeant in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces but had a talent for endurance running.
She won gold in the up and downhill mountain race at the inaugural World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand in 2022.
The marathon runner leaves behind two children, aged nine and 11, who are fathered by a different man living in Uganda.
According to the Daily Mail, one of her children witnessed the attack but was prevented from helping her mother by Ndiema.
Paying tribute to Cheptegei a statement from the Ugandan Athletics Federation on social media read: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”
World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe said: “Our sport has lost a talented athlete in the most tragic and unthinkable circumstances. Rebecca was an incredibly versatile runner who still had lots left to give on the roads, mountains and cross country trails.”
He pledged to investigate ways to better protect female athletes: “I have been in touch with our council members in Africa to see how we can help, not only in our capacity as governing body of the sport Rebecca competed in, but to assess how our safeguarding policies might be enhanced to include abuse outside of the sport, and bringing together stakeholders from all areas of athletics to combine forces to protect our female athletes to the best of our abilities from abuse of all kinds.”
More to follow.
