2024 Olympic athlete burned alive by boyfriend dies

"We have learned of the sad passing of Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei... following a brutal attack by her boyfriend," Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, said in a post on X.

Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei. Photo: Reuters

Earlier, Kenyan and Ugandan media reported that Cheptegei, 33, a participant in the 2024 Paris Olympics, suffered burns to more than 75% of her body after being set on fire by her boyfriend on September 1. She was rushed to the emergency room but did not survive.

Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen described the athlete's death as a great loss. "This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which has become a serious problem in recent years in professional sports," he said.

The Uganda Athletics Federation has called for justice for Cheptegei. Ugandan Sports Minister Peter Ogwang said Kenyan authorities are investigating the killing, which has sparked a wave of violence against women in the East African nation.

According to 2022 government data, nearly 34% of Kenyan girls and women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, with married women at particularly high risk, with 41% facing violence.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nu-vdv-olympic-2024-bi-ban-trai-thieu-song-da-tu-vong-post310765.html