Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei has been laid to rest with full military honors in Uganda, following her tragic death.
Cheptegei, who had been doused with petrol and set on fire by her former partner, passed away after the horrific attack.
Cheptegei, known for her achievements in athletics, had recently returned to her home in the highlands of western Kenya, renowned for its high-altitude training facilities, after finishing 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics on August 11.
This event marked her final competition before her untimely death.
Three weeks after the Olympics, her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, allegedly attacked her while she was returning from church with her two daughters and younger sister in Kinyoro village, according to Kenyan police and her family.
Rebecca’s father revealed to Reuters that she had reported Marangach to the police multiple times, with her last complaint filed on August 30, just days before the attack.
Cheptegei suffered severe burns covering 80% of her body and succumbed to her injuries four days later. Before her death, she told her father, “I don’t think I’ll make it.
If I die, just bury me at home in Uganda.”
Her death has ignited outrage over the prevalence of violence against women in Kenya, particularly within the athletics community.
Cheptegei became the third athlete to reportedly die at the hands of a partner since 2021.
ChepAtegei’s athletic career included notable victories such as the 2021 Mountain and Trail Running World Championships in Thailand, and the Padova Marathon in Italy in 2022, where she set a national marathon record.
Born in eastern Uganda in 1991, she had met Marangach during a training stint in Kenya and later relocated there to pursue her athletic career.
Marangach also died shortly after Cheptegei, as a result of the burns sustained during the attack, leading to mixed reactions from the community.
Cheptegei’s tragic death has shocked many, but her legacy continues to inspire. Paris plans to honor her memory by naming a sports center after her.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo praised Cheptegei, saying, “She surprised us here in Paris.
We saw her strength, her beauty, and her independence. Paris will not forget her.”
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