World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed his sorrow over the loss, stating, “Our sport has lost a talented athlete in the most tragic and unthinkable circumstances.
The athletics community is reeling from the tragic loss of Rebecca Cheptegei, a highly versatile long-distance runner, who passed away on Thursday in Eldoret, Kenya.
Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, succumbed to her injuries after battling for her life in the ICU at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, where she had been admitted following an attack that left her with over 75% burns.
The 33-year-old Ugandan athlete was set on fire by her estranged partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, at her home in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. According to her parents, Cheptegei had been in an abusive relationship, with her partner frequently threatening her with violence. The attack culminated in this horrific incident, leaving the sports world in shock and mourning.
In a statement, World Athletics honored Cheptegei, saying, "Over the past 15 years, Rebecca represented her nation at major championships across track, roads, cross-country, and mountain running. Her most notable achievement was her victory in the up-and-downhill race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2022."
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed his sorrow over the loss, stating, “Our sport has lost a talented athlete in the most tragic and unthinkable circumstances. Rebecca was an incredibly versatile runner who had so much more to give on the roads, mountains, and cross-country trails."
Coe also emphasized the importance of safeguarding athletes, saying, “I have been in touch with our Council Members in Africa to explore ways we can help—not just as the governing body of the sport Rebecca competed in—but to assess how our safeguarding policies can be strengthened. We aim to address abuse both within and outside the sport, uniting stakeholders across athletics to protect our female athletes from all forms of abuse."
Cheptegei’s accomplishments on the global stage were significant. In 2023, she placed 14th in the marathon at the World Championships in Budapest. Earlier that year, she narrowly missed a medal in the half marathon at the African Games, and later made her Olympic debut in Paris, where she finished 44th in the marathon with a time of 2:32:14.
Her death has cast a shadow over the world of athletics, as her promising career and contributions to the sport were tragically cut short.
RISING CASES OF FEMICIDE
Cheptegei's death highlights the rising cases of violence against women athletes, just months after Kenyan athletes marched in protest, calling for an end to femicide and violence against women.
In 2021, Kenyan record-breaking athlete Agnes Tirop, 25, was similarly killed, stabbed to death at her home in Iten, allegedly by her estranged husband. That case is still ongoing.