Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died following an attack by her ex-boyfriend.

who doused her in petrol and set her on fire. The 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner, who competed in the recent Paris Olympics, sustained severe burns in the incident that occurred after she returned from church with her two daughters.

Authorities in north-west Kenya, where Cheptegei lived and trained, reported that she was targeted due to a dispute with her ex-partner over a piece of land. Cheptegei, originally from Uganda, had purchased a plot in Trans Nzoia County and built a house to be close to Kenya’s top athletics training centers.

Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, described his daughter as “very supportive” and expressed deep sorrow at her loss. Fellow Ugandan athlete James Kirwa praised her generosity and support for other runners.

The attack highlights the broader issue of gender-based violence in Kenya, where 34% of women reported experiencing physical violence in 2022. Kenya’s Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen emphasized the urgent need to address this issue, noting its impact even on elite sports.

The UN has condemned Cheptegei’s murder, with statements from both the UN Population Fund and UN Women. Cheptegei’s father has called on the Kenyan government to ensure justice and expressed concern for his granddaughters’ future education.

Dr. Kimani Mbugua of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret confirmed that Cheptegei had severe burns leading to multi-organ failure, which ultimately resulted in her death early in the morning.

Kirwa, who trained with Cheptegei and visited her in the hospital, remembered her as an affable person who was generous and supportive, likening her to an older sister.