In a tragic turn of events, Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who recently competed in the Paris Olympics, is fighting for her life after suffering severe burns in an alleged domestic dispute.
The incident, which took place on Sunday afternoon at her home in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County, has left over 75% of her body burned, according to local media reports.
Domestic dispute leads to fire
According to a report published by Reuters, Cheptegei, 33, is currently in critical condition at a hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. The attack, described as a domestic dispute by police, also resulted in injuries to her Kenyan partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who is believed to have doused her with petrol before the fire broke out.
Police commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom stated that Marangach was also burnt in the incident. He reportedly broke into Cheptegei’s home while she was at church, leading to the violent confrontation.
Cheptegei’s parents are en route from Uganda to be by her side. The athlete, who finished 44th in the women’s marathon at the 2024 Olympics, had purchased a home and land in Kenya to utilize the area’s renowned training facilities.
This incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing issue of domestic violence, particularly within the Kenyan athletic community.
In 2021, Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in her home, a case that sparked national outrage and led to the establishment of Tirop’s Angels, a foundation aimed at combating gender-based violence.
Domestic violence among women in sports
According to a 2023 UNESCO report, a staggering 736 million women worldwide have faced the harrowing experience of physical or sexual violence in their lives. This grim statistic casts a long shadow over the world of sports, where the risk of violence against women and girls is unacceptably high.
The playing field is far from level. Nearly 21% of professional women athletes have endured the trauma of sexual abuse as children in sport, a figure that is almost double that of their male counterparts. The specter of violence looms large, with police reports of domestic violence spiking during major sporting events like the World Cup, in some communities by more than a third.
The digital arena is no safer. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, women athletes were the targets of 87% of all abusive Twitter posts. From the grassroots to the professional leagues, women and girls in sports—be they athletes, coaches, reporters, therapists, referees, or fans—are subjected to a relentless barrage of violence and abuse.
In the face of this crisis, sports organizations must rise to the challenge. They must provide robust support services for survivors, ensuring access to confidential reporting mechanisms that offer protection from retaliation. These measures are not just about mitigating the risk of violence and abuse; they are about rebuilding trust by creating a culture where perpetrators are held accountable and removed from positions of power.
Together, the landscape of sports can be transformed, turning it into a sanctuary where women and girls can thrive, free from the fear of violence.
As the community rallies around Cheptegei during this difficult time, the tragic event serves as a call to action to address the pervasive issue of domestic assault and to support initiatives like Tirop’s Angels in their efforts to provide support and protection for victims.