Drama: Olympic runner doused with petrol by boyfriend and…

Uganda's Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei was doused with petrol and set on fire by her partner. She suffered severe burns and her life is in critical condition.

According to police, Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei was doused with petrol and set on fire by her partner. The 33-year-old is being treated for severe burns in hospital in the city of Eldoret in Kenya after the incident on Sunday. According to police, her partner ambushed Cheptegei with a five-litre petrol canister at her home in Trans-Nzoia County in rural western Kenya while she was at church.

Previously, there was apparently an argument between the two over a piece of land, among other things. Cheptegei's partner was also caught in the flames. Neighbors put out the fire and took both of them to the hospital, it was said. The police are now investigating the man for attempted murder.

“Let us pray for them!”

According to the hospital in Eldoret, Cheptegei was admitted to the intensive care unit with burns on about 80 percent of her body surface. She also inhaled flames and suffered internal burns. The athlete, who is on artificial respiration, is currently in critical condition. The alleged perpetrator is also in the intensive care unit with burns on 30 percent of his body surface.

“Our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei was brutally attacked by her friend and suffered severe burns,” Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “Let us pray for Rebecca and wish her a full recovery. Let us all say NO to violence, especially against women. This is totally unacceptable and we condemn this totally uncalled for attack.”

Cheptegei finished 44th in the women's marathon at the Paris Olympic Games in August. Before that, the athlete finished 14th at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and won a gold medal at the 2021 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai.