The death of Ugandan Olympic long-distance runner and record holder Rebecca Cheptegei, allegedly set alight by her partner, has provoked condemnation.
“[The incident] is a tragic reminder that domestic abuse can and does infiltrate all parts of society, including women celebrated for their achievements in the world of sport and beyond,” Women’s Aid and Women in Sport said in a joint statement.
Uganda’s First Lady, Janet Museveni, described Cheptegei’s death as deeply disturbing, while Kenya’s sports minister Kipchumba Murkomen emphasised the need for greater action against gender-based violence, sports news website Inside The Games reported.
Organisers of the Paris Olympics expressed their profound indignation and sadness, while Kenya’s National Olympic Committee remembered her as a talented athlete and a record holder in the women’s marathon.
Cheptegei’s death occurred in Kenya and was reportedly related to a property dispute with her Kenyan partner Dickson Ndiema Marangach.
