Olympic marathon runner set on fire by boyfriend, police say

September 3, 2024:

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An Olympic marathon runner, who competed for Uganda and was living in Kenya, was attacked and set on fire by her boyfriend during a disagreement on Sunday, police said.

Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, ran the marathon at the Paris Olympics. It was the first time she competed at the Olympics in her running career.

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Rebecca Cheptegei, competes in the Discovery 10km road race in Kapchorwa, Uganda, on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. (AP Photo)

Weeks after finishing 44th in the event, Cheptegei was attacked in her house in the western Trans Nzoia County in Kenya. Police Commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom said Monday that Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, bought a jerrican of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze.

Cheptegei was receiving and receiving treatment for burns on 75% of her body, police said. Ndiema also sustained burn wounds in the alleged incident.

According to a police report, the couple were overheard fighting over land where the house was built before the fire was started.

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Rebecca Cheptegei at the World Athletics Championship

Rebecca Cheptegei runs during the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 women’s marathon in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 26, 2023. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

“The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her,” Koisom said, via BBC.

Cheptegei bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the county’s many athletic training centers, her parents said.

An investigation into the incident was ongoing.

Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (ISR), Tsehay Gemechu (ETH), Rebecca Cheptegei (UGA) and Keira D’Amato (USA) run during the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 women’s marathon in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 26, 2023. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

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In 2022, Cheptegei won the Padova Marathon and finished in second place in the 10,000-meter race at the Ugandan Championships. She then finished fourth in the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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