Olympic runner hospitalized after being 'set on fire by boyfriend' following return from Paris games

A Ugandan athlete living in Kenya was set on fire by her boyfriend and is receiving treatment for 75 percent burns, police said.

Rebecca Cheptegei, a distance runner who finished 44th in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a time of two hours, 32 minutes and 14 seconds, was allegedly attacked in her house in western Trans Nzoia County.

Trans Nzoia police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said that Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, bought a can of petrol, poured it on her and set her on fire during a disagreement on Sunday (September 1).

Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei was attacked by her boyfriend (Uganda Athletics Federation/Twitter)

Ndiema also sustained burn wounds, and both are receiving specialised treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city.

Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the county’s many athletic training centres.

A report filed by the local chief says the couple were heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire started.

According to local news outlets, Cheptegei is in a critical condition.

The The Ugandan Athletics Federation (UAF) have addressed the matter on social media.

"We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret," the organization posted on Twitter today (September 3).

Cheptegei - seen in yellow - came in 44th place in the Paris 2024 marathon (Jiang Qiming/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

People have since expressed their well wishes for the Olympian as she recovers from the horrific ordeal.

"Wishing her quick recovery," one person commented.

A second person echoed similar sentiments and wrote: "Sad to hear this. Wish her a quick recovery."

"No words. Sending the best wishes for her recovery," added someone else.

A different person penned: "This is so tragic. Wishing her good and speedy recovery, and hoping that she gets justice."

Sadly Cheptegei's case isn't the first like this.

In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead and a post-mortem examination said she had been strangled, while in 2021 two-time World Athletics Championships bronze medallist Agnes Tirop was discovered stabbed to death.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence 24 hours a day to the national domestic violence helpline on 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 24/7. You can find a list of local resources here.