Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in a vital 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 mentioned.
She was attacked at her residence in western Kenya, the place she had been coaching.
There are considerations concerning the rising instances of violence in opposition to feminine athletes in Kenya, a few of which have resulted in demise.
Ms Cheptegei is alleged to have been rescued by neighbours after the incident that occurred on Sunday at her residence within the small city of Endebess.
She was getting back from church together with her two kids when she was focused.
The alleged attacker additionally sustained severe burns, native police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom instructed journalists.
The 2 are being handled at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the principle city within the area.
“The couple have been heard quarrelling exterior 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 alleged to have purchased a bit 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 mentioned the 2 had been wrangling over the piece of land. Police say an investigation is underneath means.
Ms Cheptegei completed forty fourth within the marathon on the current Paris Olympics.
She additionally received 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 found 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 found stabbed to death in the identical city.
In each instances, their companions have been recognized by the authorities as the principle suspects.
Ms Tirop’s husband is presently going through homicide prices, 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 death by assailants in Eldoret.
