South Africa’s road running legend Gerda Steyn has led the tributes for fellow marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei of Uganda who died tragically on Thursday.
The 33-year-old died horrifically after being set on fire by her boyfriend, Ugandan Athletics said.
President of the Uganda Olympic Committee, Donald Rukare, said in a post on X: "We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei... following a vicious attack by her boyfriend.”
The East African nation is said by activists to be battling a femicide epidemic.
Rebecca Cheptegei - Burned
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) September 5, 2024
Agnes Tirop - Stabbed
Damaris Mutua - Strangled
All female athletes killed in the last 3 years whose husbands or boyfriends are suspects. Kenya has a femicide problem pic.twitter.com/w5lQLA1OPy
Finished Paris Olympics marathon together
Both Steyn and Cheptegei competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics. Steyn went on to finish in 45th position, with Cheptegei finishing one spot ahead of the South African.
“I am so saddened by the news about the death of Rebecca Cheptegei,” the three-time Comrades Marathon champion Steyn told IOL Sport.
“No one deserves to have their life taken away in such a cruel way. The running world has lost a great talent. I didn’t know Rebecca personally, but I finished one position behind her at the Paris Olympic Games and my heartfelt condolences goes to everyone who knew her or trained with her.”
The athletics world woke up to the shocking news of Cheptegei’s demise on Thursday, four days after being doused in petrol and set alight on Sunday at her home in Endebess in the western county of Trans-Nzoia.
According to reports, Cheptegei had suffered burns to 80% of her body during the attack.
"All her organs failed last night," a medic at the facility, the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), told AFP on Thursday.
Cheptegei died in the early hours of the morning as a result.