Rebecca Cheptegei: Paris to honour Ugandan Olympian set on fire by ex-boyfriend

The mayor of Paris has announced that a sports facility in the city will be dedicated to Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically passed away after her former partner reportedly set her ablaze.

The woman, who was 33 years old, passed away on Thursday from serious burns after her ex-partner allegedly poured gasoline on her and lit her on fire outside her house in north-western Kenya on Sunday.

Police in western Kenya have informed the BBC that they are viewing Cheptegei's death as a homicide. They had mentioned earlier that they were conducting an inquiry into the matter.

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, stated that naming a sports facility after Cheptegei would ensure that "her legacy and her tale continue to live on with us".

Cheptegei took part in the Olympic marathon in Paris and finished in 44th place with a time of 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 14 seconds.

Ms Hidalgo informed the press that the athlete impressed everyone at the Olympics in Paris, saying that the city will always remember her.

"We witnessed her. Her attractiveness, her power, her independence, and it was most likely these traits that the perpetrator found unbearable," she explained.

We will rename a sports facility in her honor so that we can keep her memory alive and continue sharing her inspiring message of equality, a message that aligns with the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Joan Chelimo, a fellow athlete like Cheptegei, stated that women should "unite" in response to the incident.

"I was acquainted with Rebecca personally as we both attended the Paris Olympics. She was a mother who had put in a lot of effort to qualify for the Olympics," she shared during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.

She was the main financial provider for her family and you can picture other girls admiring her.

Ms. Chelimo also mentioned: "We are still holding out hope and doing our best to believe that those responsible will face consequences for their actions."

When Cheptegei was 19 years old, she first competed for Uganda in a race for athletes under 20 at the 2010 World Cross Country Championships. She then started participating in longer road races and had her first marathon race in 2021.

The next year, she achieved her best time yet with a record of two hours, 22 minutes, and 47 seconds. This accomplishment solidified her position as the second-fastest female runner in Uganda's history.

Cheptegei was able to provide for her family using the money she made from running.

Ms. Chelimo expressed her belief that certain men may feel "threatened" by female athletes who are "breaking away from the usual expectations of men being the primary providers".

"They are achieving greater financial security, gaining more autonomy, and I believe their former partners are unhappy with our growing independence and assertiveness."

A local official's report claimed that the athlete and her former partner were fighting over a plot of land.

Violence against women is a growing issue in Kenya. A recent survey conducted in 2022 found that 34% of women reported experiencing physical violence.

"We still have a lot of work ahead," Ms. Chelimo expressed. "We are optimistic that this will serve as another reminder for us to unite and take action."