Sports world in shock after horrific death – Olympic runner passes away just weeks after competing in Paris

Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died of her burns in a hospital in Kenya, the president of the Uganda Olympic Committee says.

The boyfriend is suspected of setting the 33-year-old on fire.

Police in Kenya’s Trans Nozia, which is near the border with Uganda, say the boyfriend allegedly bought petrol, poured it over Rebecca Cheptegei and lit up after an argument on Sunday.

Kenyan media have previously reported that one of the athlete’s daughters saw what happened.
– He kicked me when I tried to help my mother, she says.
– I called for help, a neighbor came and tried to put out the flames with water, but it didn’t work.

The boyfriend is also being treated in hospital for serious burns.

Cheptegei finished 44th in the Paris Marathon with a time of 2.32.14.

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