Rebecca Cheptegei, Uganda’s star distance runner, is battling for her life in the hospital following a brutal attack.
Just 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 disclosed the gruesome incident.
Police Chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom revealed that witnesses reported hearing a heated argument between the couple before Ndiema allegedly poured gasoline on Cheptegei and set her on fire.
Cheptegei, who had recently competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics on August 11, now faces a critical medical situation.
The 33-year-old athlete is receiving treatment in the ICU for severe burns that cover 75 percent of her body, as well as significant inhalation injuries.
Neighbors, hearing the commotion, intervened and rescued both individuals from the fire before they were rushed to the hospital.
This horrific event mirrors the recent tragedies involving female athletes in Kenya.
Folie is currently wanted by authorities, further contributing to the troubling rise of violence against female athletes in the region.
