Ugandan Olympic Athlete Set Ablaze by Boyfriend in Kenya, Suffers 75% Burns

Rebecca Cheptegei who is a Ugandan distance runner who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, is receiving treatment for severe burns after her boyfriend allegedly set her on fire during a domestic dispute. The incident occurred in her home in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya, where Cheptegei had moved to be closer to the region's athletic training centers.

Credit: The Cut

According to police, Cheptegei's boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, poured petrol on her and ignited it, causing 75% burns. Ndiema also sustained burn injuries, and both are undergoing specialized treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

The attack is believed to have been sparked by a disagreement over land ownership, with Cheptegei's parents stating that their daughter had purchased the land where the house was built. A local report indicates that the couple was heard arguing before the fire started.

This incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks on athletes in the region. In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds, and in 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found strangled. Cheptegei's case has raised concerns about athlete safety and the need for greater support and protection.