A sports activities venue in Paris might be named after Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who died after her ex-boyfriend allegedly set her on fireplace, the French capital’s mayor has introduced.
The 33-year-old mom died on Thursday with extreme burns after her former accomplice allegedly doused her in petrol and set her on fireplace exterior her residence in north-western Kenya on Sunday.
Police in western Kenya have informed the BBC they’re treating Cheptegei’s loss of life as homicide. They beforehand mentioned an investigation was under way.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo mentioned dedicating a sports activities venue after Cheptegei would assist “her reminiscence and her story stay amongst us”.
Cheptegei competed within the Olympic marathon in Paris, coming forty fourth in a time of two hours 32 minutes and 14 seconds.
Ms Hidalgo informed reporters the runner “dazzled us” on the Olympic Video games within the French capital, including that “Paris won’t neglect her”.
“We noticed her. Her magnificence, her energy, her freedom, and it was in all chance her magnificence, energy and freedom which have been insupportable for the one who dedicated this homicide,” she mentioned.
“We’ll dedicate a sports activities venue to her in order that her reminiscence and her story stays amongst us and helps carry the message of equality, which is a message carried by the Olympic and Paralympic Video games.”
Joan Chelimo, a fellow athlete of Cheptegei’s, mentioned ladies have to “come collectively” following the incident.
“I knew Rebecca as an individual: we have been collectively on the Paris Olympics. She was a mum, she had been onerous working to be on the Olympics,” she informed BBC Radio 4’s Girl’s Hour.
“She was the breadwinner of her household and you may think about different ladies have been wanting as much as her.”
Ms Chelimo added: “We’re nonetheless hoping, and making an attempt to hope, that the perpetrators might be held accountable for his or her wrongdoings.”
At 19 years outdated, Cheptegei first represented Uganda in an under-20 race on the 2010 World Cross Nation Championships and later transitioned to longer street races, making her marathon debut in 2021.
She recorded a private better of two hours 22 minutes and 47 seconds the next yr, making her the second-fastest Ugandan lady of all time.
Cheptegei was capable of help her household along with her earnings from working.
Ms Chelimo mentioned she thinks some males really feel “intimidated” by feminine athletes who’re “going past the standard norms of males offering the whole lot”.
“They’re turning into extra financially steady, they’re turning into extra unbiased, and I believe their ex-partners don’t like the actual fact we have gotten unbiased, we’re elevating our voices extra.”
A report filed by an area administrator alleged the athlete and her ex-partner had been wrangling over a bit of land.
Assaults on ladies have change into a significant concern in Kenya. In 2022 not less than 34% of girls mentioned that they had skilled bodily violence, in response to a nationwide survey.
“Extra must be executed,” Ms Chelimo mentioned. “We’re actually hoping that now it’s one other get up name and for us to return collectively.”
