33-year-old Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died days after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend.
Cheptegei lived and trained in Kenya, and was targeted when she was coming home from church.
The man in question was hospitalised with less severe burns and will likely return to good health.
A report filed by a local administrator alleged the athlete and her ex-partner had been wrangling over a piece of land, says the BBC. They were seen having a fight outside of their house, which was the point of dispute, at which point he poured a can of petrol over Cheptegei and set her on fire.
Domestic violence against female athletes is common in Kenya – Cheptegei isn’t the first to pass away in such horrific, preventable circumstances. Her death comes two years after the killings of fellow East African athletes Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua – both murdered by romantic partners.
Cheptegei finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, just a few weeks ago. She also won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand in 2022.
