Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in a crucial situation in a Kenyan hospital, after allegedly being doused with petrol and set on hearth by a former boyfriend.
The 33-year-old marathon runner, who competed on the latest Paris Olympics, had suffered burns to greater than 75% of her physique, police stated.
She was attacked at her house in western Kenya, the place she had been coaching.
There are issues in regards to the rising circumstances of violence towards feminine athletes in Kenya, a few of which have resulted in demise.
Ms Cheptegei is alleged to have been rescued by neighbours after the incident that occurred on Sunday at her house within the small city of Endebess.
The alleged attacker additionally sustained severe burns, native police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom informed journalists.
The 2 are being handled at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the primary city within the area.
“The couple have been heard quarrelling exterior their home. Through the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the lady earlier than burning her,” Mr Kosiom was quoted as saying.
Ms Cheptegei, from a area simply throughout the border in Uganda, is alleged to have purchased a bit of land in Trans Nzoia county and constructed a home, to be close to Kenya’s many athletic coaching centres.
A report filed by a neighborhood administrator stated the 2 had been wrangling over the piece of land. Police say an investigation is beneath manner.
Ms Cheptegei completed forty fourth within the marathon on the latest Paris Olympics.
She additionally received gold on the World Mountain and Path Working Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
In April 2022, one other feminine runner, Damaris Mutua, was discovered strangled in a house with a pillow over her face within the Rift Valley city of Iten.
It got here months after record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was discovered stabbed to demise in the identical city.
Males have additionally been focused.
Final December, one other Ugandan athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to demise by assailants in Eldoret.
