Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who represented Uganda in the women’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, has succumbed to burns sustained, after her boyfriend Dickson Marangach set her on fire.

The Minister of State for Education and Sports, Peter Ogwang, confirmed this on September 5, 2024.

“I have just received disturbing news about the tragic death of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei this morning in Kenya. I send my deepest condolences to the family, relatives, sports fraternity, and Ugandans at large.,” Ogwang posted.

On September 1, 2024, Marangach doused Cheptegei with petrol and set her on fire at her home in Endebess, western Kenya, where she suffered 80% burns and was transferred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for specialized treatment.

According to witnesses, an argument on a piece of land that Cheptegei had acquired triggered Ndiema to burn her with petrol.

Both individuals were taken to the hospital, as Ndiema sustained 30% burns, but Cheptegei’s condition was described as dire due to the extent of her burns.

Cheptegei participated in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, finishing 44th in the marathon event.