Slain Ugandan Olympian, Rebecca Cheptegei, laid to rest with full military honours
Story by Jane AISO
Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, tragically killed after allegedly being set alight by her former partner, was buried on Saturday with full military honours in her home region of Uganda. The ceremony followed her recent participation in the Paris Olympics, where she placed 44th in the marathon, a race that would unknowingly be her last.
Cheptegei, a celebrated athlete, returned to her home in the highlands of western Kenya, known for its elite training facilities. However, just three weeks after her Olympic run, she was attacked by her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, as she was returning from church with her two daughters and younger sister. Despite seeking police protection several times, the authorities were unable to prevent the attack. Cheptegei sustained burns over 80% of her body and succumbed to her injuries four days later.
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, recounted her heartbreaking final words from her hospital bed: “I don’t think I am going to make it… If I die, just bury me at home in Uganda.”
Cheptegei’s death has sparked outrage over the high levels of violence against women in Kenya, especially within the athletics community. She is the third elite runner to allegedly die at the hands of a romantic partner since 2021. According to government data, one in three Kenyan women aged 15-49 has suffered physical violence.
READ ALSO : Killer of athlete Rebecca Cheptegei accused of setting her on fire dies in hospital
Cheptegei’s career was filled with significant achievements, including winning the 2021 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand and setting a national record at the Padova Marathon in Italy.
While her untimely death has shocked the world, her legacy may continue to inspire future athletes, with Paris planning to name a sports facility in her honour. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo praised her impact, saying, “She dazzled us here in Paris. We saw her strength, her beauty, her freedom. Paris will not forget her.”
Written by Sekinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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