On Thursday (Sept. 5), Ugandan athletics officials announced that Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei had died in a Kenyan hospital, where she was being treated for severe burns covering 80% of her body. She was 33 years old.

According to CBS News, this tragic incident happened after Cheptegei’s boyfriend allegedly poured gasoline on her and set her on fire. She passed away from organ failure just four days after the attack.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom revealed that Dickson Ndiema drowned her with gasoline and set her ablaze during an argument over land. "The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her," ole Kosiom told reporters.

ESPN reported that Cheptegei's parents bought land in Trans Nzoia for their daughter to be near the county's many athletic training centers.

Shortly after the news, Ugandan Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare paid his respects in a social media post. "May her gentle soul rest in peace, and we strongly condemn violence against women," he tweeted. "This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure."

Cheptegei, who finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, was a respected figure in the running community. According to 2022 government data, nearly 34% of Kenyan girls and women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with married women being especially vulnerable. In the same region where Cheptegei was attacked, two elite Kenyan runners, Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, were tragically killed within six months of each other, allegedly at the hands of their partners.