Rebecca Cheptegei was born in Cheminy, Uganda, on February 22, 1991. She later moved to Kenya and purchased property there to be nearer to athletic coaching centres. In keeping 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 Educating and Referral Hospital in Eldoret on Sept.05 as a result of a number of organ failure on account of her burns.
The assault occurred at her residence in Endebess, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. Police stated 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 have been each reportedly showing earlier than the Directorate of Prison Investigations (DCI) in Kitale over a land tussle.
The horrific incident happened 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 Working 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 received the 2022 Padova Marathon and was 2nd within the 10,000 m on the Ugandan Championships in Kampala. In the identical 12 months, she set a Ugandan nationwide document of two:22:47 within the marathon occasion, and received the postponed 2021 World Mountain and Path Working Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She ended the 12 months with a 4th place end within the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. This earned her a spot to signify 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 girls’s marathon, ending in forty fourth place.
The president of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Donald Rukare stated in a publish on X: ‘We’ve got 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 regulation enforcement businesses ‘to take swift and decisive motion to carry the perpetrator to justice’.
Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Schooling & Sports activities additionally stated: ‘I’ve simply acquired disturbing information concerning the tragic demise of Uganda’s athlete Rebecca Cheptegei this morning in Kenya.
‘The Kenyan authorities are investigating the circumstances below which she died and a extra detailed report & program can be offered in the end.
‘The long-distance runner represented us within the lately concluded 2024 Paris Olympics. I ship my deepest condolences to the household, family, sports activities fraternity and Ugandans at massive.’
