Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei died after being set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya, the head of the Ugandan Olympic Committee said on Thursday.

“We have learned of the sad passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei… following a vicious attack by her boyfriend,” Donald Rukare said in a post on X.

“This was a cowardly and senseless act that resulted in the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will live on,” he added.

Burns on 80% of her body

The 33-year-old marathon runner suffered burns to 80 percent of her body, according to the deputy director of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, where she was treated.

“All her organs failed last night,” a doctor at the facility told AFP news agency.

According to police, a man identified as her partner doused Cheptegei with petrol and set her on fire in an attack on Sunday in her home.

The Uganda Athletics Federation also reacted to Cheptegei’s death.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei this morning, who was tragically the victim of domestic violence,” the association posted on X. “As an association, we condemn such acts and demand justice. May her soul rest in peace.”

Cheptegei competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics last month.

jsi/nm (AFP, AP)