Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Set On Fire Weeks After Competing In Paris

**Three weeks after her Olympic debut, Cheptegei was set on fire by her alleged boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, at her Kenyan residence on August 2.**  

The shocking details emerged as Tranz Nzoi Country Police revealed the gruesome incident.  

**According to police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom, witnesses reported hearing the couple’s heated argument before Ndiema allegedly poured gasoline on Cheptegei and ignited her.**  

 **Cheptegei, who had just competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics on August 11, now faces a dire medical situation.**  

**The 33-year-old athlete is being treated in the ICU for severe burns covering 75 percent of her body, along with significant inhalation injuries.**  

**In a tragic twist, Ndiema was also admitted to the hospital with burns on 30 percent of his body, according to The Star.**  

**The nightmare began when Ndiema reportedly sneaked into Cheptegei’s home with a five-liter can of gasoline while she was at church.**  

 **He allegedly drenched her with the flammable liquid upon her return and then set her on fire.**  

 **Neighbors, hearing the commotion, intervened and pulled both individuals from the blaze before they were rushed to the hospital.**  

**This horrific event echoes the recent tragedies involving female athletes in Kenya.**  

**In October 2021, distance runner Agnes Tirop was found murdered with stab wounds in her neck.**  

**Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was charged with her murder but has denied the charges and remains in legal limbo.**  

**Just months later, in April 2022, runner Damaris Mutua was discovered strangled in her rental home.**  

**Her boyfriend, Eskinder Hailemariam Folie, confessed to a friend about the killing before disappearing.**  

**Folie is currently wanted by authorities, adding to the grim tally of violence against female athletes in the region.**  

**These tragic incidents have sparked a broader conversation about gender-based violence in Kenya.**  

**Mary Keitany, a fellow Kenyan runner, highlighted the urgent need for awareness and prevention.**  

 **Keitany pointed to a Kenya Demographic Health Survey report revealing that 40 percent of women in Kenya have faced physical or sexual violence from their partners.**  

 **”The elephant in the room is gender-based violence, which is now rife among athletes,” Keitany stated.**  

 **She called for increased efforts to educate athletes about the dangers of abuse and to encourage them to seek help.**  

 **Rebecca Cheptegei’s harrowing ordeal underscores the urgent need for systemic change to protect athletes and women from domestic violence.**  

 **As she battles for survival, her case highlights a disturbing pattern of violence affecting women in the sports community.**  

**The ongoing investigation and the broader discussions prompted by these tragedies are crucial for ensuring justice and safety for athletes.**  

**The community’s response to these incidents will be a litmus test for how effectively the issue of gender-based violence is addressed in Kenya and beyond.**