Marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei was set on fire after competing in the Olympics. She's part of a horrifying trend.

Content warning: This article includes descriptions of domestic violence. 

Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei was basking in her post-Paris Olympics 2024 accomplishments when she arrived back in Kenya, where she resided.

She had competed in the women's marathon and placed 44th in the race, representing her country. Upon returning home, Cheptegei went back to her athletics training and spending time with her two children. 

She is said to have settled with her family and bought land in western Kenya, near the border with Uganda, to be near Kenya's many state-of-the-art athletic training centres. 

According to her father, Joseph Cheptegei, his daughter had been split from her ex-boyfriend for a long time prior to the attack, per The Star. Reports suggest there had been arguments between the former couple about the land Cheptegei had bought.

Then on the afternoon of Sunday, September 1, Cheptegei was allegedly set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. In the early morning of Thursday, September 5, she passed away at the age of 33, after all her organs failed.

She was returning from a church service with her two children when she was targeted. Neighbours came to her rescue soon after the attack, after hearing "quarrelling outside their house".

Watch: Women and violence, the hidden numbers. 

Emergency services rushed to her home in Trans Nzoia County in Western Kenya and local police then quickly attended the scene. 

Investigators believe she was doused in petrol before being set alight. The athlete was rushed to hospital with severe burns to 80 per cent of her body. On Thursday, September 5, the hospital's senior director of clinical services Dr Owen Menach, confirmed that Cheptegei had died.

Previously, Dr Menach had told BBC that Cheptegei had been "fully sedated because of the extent of the burns". 

Talking to reporters before Cheptegei's death had been confirmed, father Joseph Cheptegei said that he prayed "for justice for my daughter". 

The alleged perpetrator also sustained serious burns to 30 per cent of his body, police confirmed to local press. At the time of Cheptegei's death, Dr Menach said that the man was "improving and stable", however, The Star has reported that the man died in hospital on Monday, September 9 as a result of his injuries.

This week her loved ones commemorated Cheptegei's life at her funeral. Her daughter held a portrait of her mother while in mourning at the service.

Thousands paid their respects, military officers playing a major role in the funeral because Cheptegei held the rank of sergeant in Uganda's army.

"As a nation, we are indeed in a black and dark moment," said Ajilong B. Modestar, the Bukwo resident district commissioner.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the manner in which Rebecca died... We should not continue battering women in this manner."

Rebecca Cheptegei's daughter. Image: AAP.

After news of the attack broke, Ugandan Olympic Committee president Donald Rukare called for an end to violence against women.

"Our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei was viciously attacked by her boyfriend, sustaining serious burns, currently admitted in hospital," he posted on X at the time.

"Let's keep Rebecca in pray[er] and wish her a full recovery. Let's all say NO to violence, especially against women. This is totally unacceptable and we condemn this totally uncalled-for attack. Together let's stand against violence."

These cases sadly aren't isolated.

In September 2021, Kenyan long-distance runner Agnes Tirop set a new women's only 10km road running world record. Four weeks later, she was found stabbed to death in her town of Iten, Kenya. 

Her husband Ibrahim Rotich is currently standing trial accused of her murder. Tirop's sister told the court at the start of Rotich's trial that he had physically assaulted Tirop on many occasions. 

Her funeral took place on what would have been her 26th birthday.  

In April 2022, a Kenyan-born Bahraini female runner, Damaris Muthee Mutua, was found strangled in a home with a pillow over her face. Mutua's body was found in a house in Iten, Kenya — the same area where Tirop had been murdered. It's a popular location among the athletics and running community, given its many training centres. 

Mutua's boyfriend, Eskinder Hailemaryam Folie, allegedly confessed to the killing of Mutua and is the main suspect, according to local police.

Tackling violence against women and girls, particularly in sport, continues to be a worldwide issue.

"Sport has been an environment for some of the most shocking cases of sexism and violence against women and girls," notes UN Women.

"Yet sport has also demonstrated tremendous potential to foster gender equality and dismantle the root causes of violence against women and girls by promoting inclusivity, reshaping attitudes, addressing impunity, breaking down barriers and championing female athletes as role models."

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Mamamia is a charity partner of RizeUp Australia, a national organisation that helps women, children and families move on after the devastation of domestic and family violence. Their mission is to deliver life-changing and practical support to these families when they need it most. If you would like to support their mission you can donate here. 

This article was originally published in September 2024 and has since been updated with new information.

Feature Image: Creative Commons.