Ugandan long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, a competitor in the 10,000-meter race at the recent Paris Olympics, is currently in critical condition after suffering severe injuries in an alleged attack by her boyfriend on Monday.
Local authorities report that the incident occurred at her residence in Trans Nzoia County, where the 25-year-old athlete was reportedly doused with petrol and set on fire.
According to Trans Nzoia County police commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom, Cheptegei sustained 75 percent burns in the horrific incident. She was initially rushed to Kitale Level Four Hospital for emergency treatment but was later referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret due to the severity of her injuries.
In a troubling twist, her boyfriend allegedly involved in the attack also sustained serious burns and is currently receiving treatment at the same hospital.
Her parents, Joseph Cheptegei and Agnes Ndiema, who traveled from Uganda to Trans Nzoia after learning of the attack, expressed their distress over their daughter’s condition.
They confirmed that Rebecca had purchased land in the area and had been staying there for her training.
The police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, as many in the athletic community express shock and concern for Cheptegei’s wellbeing.
