Uganda's Rebecca Cheptegei (C) applies an ice bag on her head as she competes in the women's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris The late Rebecca Cheptegei (pictured centre) during the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics last month. Picture: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP
The city of Paris will honour slain Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei by naming a sports venue after her, the French capital's mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on Friday.
Cheptegei, who competed in the women's marathon during the Paris Olympics last month, succumbed to severe burns on Thursday after being doused with petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend at her home in Kenya.
"She dazzled us here in Paris. We saw her. Her beauty, her strength, her freedom, and it was in all liklihood her beauty, strength and freedom which were intolerable for the person who committed this murder," Hidalgo told reporters.
"Paris will not forget her. We'll dedicate a sports venue to her so that her memory and her story remains among us and helps carry the message of equality, which is a message carried by the Olympic and Paralympic Games," Hidalgo added.
Rebecca Cheptegei - Burned
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) September 5, 2024
Agnes Tirop - Stabbed
Damaris Mutua - Strangled
All female athletes killed in the last 3 years whose husbands or boyfriends are suspects. Kenya has a femicide problem pic.twitter.com/w5lQLA1OPy
Cheptegei, 33, made her Olympic debut in the women's marathon at the Paris Games, where she finished 44th.
Police and doctors say she was left with 80 percent burns after being attacked in front of her children on Sunday by her Kenyan partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach.
On Thursday, South Africa’s road running legend Gerda Steyn has led the tributes for Cheptegei.
Both Steyn and Cheptegei competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics. Steyn went on to finish in 45th position, with Cheptegei finishing one spot ahead of the South African.
“I am so saddened by the news about the death of Rebecca Cheptegei,” Steyn told IOL Sport.
“No one deserves to have their life taken away in such a cruel way. The running world has lost a great talent. I didn’t know Rebecca personally, but I finished one position behind her at the Paris Olympic Games and my heartfelt condolences goes to everyone who knew her or trained with her.”
AFP, additional reporting by IOL Sport