Rebecca Cheptegei was born in Cheminy, Uganda, on February 22, 1991. She later moved to Kenya and acquired property there to be nearer to athletic coaching centres. In line with her father, Cheptegei Sr, that’s the place she met Dickson Ndiema Marangach, the person who’s accused of torching Olympic marathon runner to demise on Sept.01.
Cheptegei, 33, suffered horrendous burns to 80 per cent of her physique within the assault and makes an attempt by medical employees to avoid wasting her life proved futile. She died on the Moi Instructing and Referral Hospital in Eldoret on Sept.05 resulting from a number of organ failure because of her burns.
The assault occurred at her residence in Endebess, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. Police mentioned her former accomplice doused her with petrol and set her ablaze. Her reported attacker was additionally hospitalised after being injured within the assault. Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom confirmed that the athlete and the person had wrangles over the plot in Kinyoro. Simply hours earlier than the Sunday ordeal, they had been each reportedly showing earlier than the Directorate of Felony Investigations (DCI) in Kitale over a land tussle.
The horrific incident befell simply weeks after Cheptegei had taken half within the marathon on the Paris Olympics, the place she positioned forty fourth.
Rebecca Cheptegei (22 February 1991 – 5 September 2024) was a Ugandan cross nation, long-distance and marathon runner, who was the nationwide document holder within the latter self-discipline and a former world champion in mountain working.
She represented Uganda at a number of World Championships since 2010, together with IAAF World Cross Nation Championships, World Mountain and Path Operating Championships and World Athletics Championships.
Cheptegei had in 2023 completed second on the Firenze Marathon and 14th on the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. She gained the 2022 Padova Marathon and was 2nd within the 10,000 m on the Ugandan Championships in Kampala. In the identical yr, she set a Ugandan nationwide document of two:22:47 within the marathon occasion, and gained the postponed 2021 World Mountain and Path Operating Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She ended the yr with a 4th place end within the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. This earned her a spot to symbolize Uganda within the 2024 Summer time Olympics in Paris.
In 2024, she certified for, and competed for Uganda on the 2024 Summer time Olympics in Paris, France within the ladies’s marathon, ending in forty fourth place.
The president of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Donald Rukare mentioned in a submit on X: ‘We now have learnt of the unhappy passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a vicious assault by her boyfriend.
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‘This was a cowardly and mindless act that has led to the lack of an incredible athlete. Her legacy will proceed to endure,’ he added.
A press launch from the UOC bearing Rukare’s signature later urged legislation enforcement companies ‘to take swift and decisive motion to deliver the perpetrator to justice’.
Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Training & Sports activities additionally mentioned: ‘I’ve simply obtained disturbing information concerning the tragic demise of Uganda’s athlete Rebecca Cheptegei this morning in Kenya.
‘The Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances underneath which she died and a extra detailed report & program can be offered in the end.
‘The long-distance runner represented us within the not too long ago concluded 2024 Paris Olympics. I ship my deepest condolences to the household, family members, sports activities fraternity and Ugandans at giant.’