Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in a important situation in a Kenyan hospital, after allegedly being doused with petrol and set on fireplace by a former boyfriend.
The 33-year-old marathon runner, who competed on the current Paris Olympics, had suffered burns to greater than 75% of her physique, police stated.
She was attacked at her house in western Kenya, the place she had been coaching.
There are considerations concerning the rising circumstances of violence towards feminine athletes in Kenya, a few of which have resulted in demise.
Ms Cheptegei is claimed to have been rescued by neighbours after the incident that occurred on Sunday at her house within the small city of Endebess.
She was getting back from church along with her two kids when she was focused.
The alleged attacker additionally sustained critical burns, native police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom advised journalists.
The 2 are being handled at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the primary city within the area.
“The couple had been heard quarrelling outdoors their home. In the course of the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the lady earlier than burning her,” Mr Kosiom was quoted as saying.
Ms Cheptegei, from a area simply throughout the border in Uganda, is claimed to have purchased a chunk of land in Trans Nzoia county and constructed a home, to be close to Kenya’s many athletic coaching centres.
A report filed by an area administrator stated the 2 had been wrangling over the piece of land. Police say an investigation is below method.
Ms Cheptegei completed forty fourth within the marathon on the current Paris Olympics.
She additionally gained gold on the World Mountain and Path Working Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
In April 2022, one other feminine runner, Damaris Mutua, was discovered strangled in a house with a pillow over her face within the Rift Valley city of Iten.
It got here months after record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was discovered stabbed to demise in the identical city.
In each circumstances, their companions have been recognized by the authorities as the primary suspects.
Ms Tirop’s husband is presently going through homicide fees, which he denies, whereas a seek for Ms Mutua’s boyfriend continues.
Males have additionally been focused.
Final December, one other Ugandan athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to demise by assailants in Eldoret.
