Ugandan Olympics star Rebecca Cheptegei is in a critical condition after allegedly being doused with petrol and set on fire by her former boyfriend.
The 33-year-old marathon runner, who recently took part at the Paris Olympics, has suffered burns to more than 75 per cent of her body.
She was attacked at her home in western Kenya where she had been training and was rescued by neighbours after the incident, which took place on Sunday.
Local police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom says the alleged attacker, Dickson Ndiema, also sustained serious burns.
Ugandan Olympics star Rebecca Cheptegei is in a critical condition after allegedly being doused with petrol and set on fire by her former boyfriend
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The pair are being treated at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Mr Kosiom said: “The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house.
"During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her."
A police report stated that the incident occurred around 2pm on Sunday.
Ndiema allegedly entered her house while the Olympics star and their children were in church.
Kenyan newspaper The Nation say Police discovered a five-litre jerry can, a bag and a burned phone at the scene of the incident.
Mr Kosiom said that the couple had been heard fighting over the land where the house was built prior to the fire being started.
Reports say Cheptegei bought the land in Trans Nzoia county and built a house.
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. This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her pic.twitter.com/rgnWvgTpkb
— Uganda Athletics Federation-UAF (@UgaAthletics2) September 3, 2024
It is said to be close to several training centres in Kenya.
Cheptegei recently finished 44th in the marathon at the Olympics in Paris.
Ugandan Olympics star Rebecca Cheptegei reportedly suffered burns to 75 per cent of her body
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She previously won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand two years ago.
There are concerns about the increasing cases of violence against female athletes in Kenya. Runner Damaris Mutua was killed two years ago, while Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to death in December.
