A sports activities venue in Paris will probably 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 companion allegedly doused her in petrol and set her on fireplace outdoors 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 underneath method.
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 power, her freedom, and it was in all probability her magnificence, power and freedom which had been insupportable for the one that 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 girls must “come collectively” following the incident.
“I knew Rebecca as an individual: we had been collectively on the Paris Olympics. She was a mum, she had been laborious working to be on the Olympics,” she informed BBC Radio 4’s Lady’s Hour.
“She was the breadwinner of her household and you may think about different women had been trying as much as her.”
Ms Chelimo added: “We’re nonetheless hoping, and making an attempt to hope, that the perpetrators will probably be held accountable for his or her wrongdoings.”
At 19 years previous, 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 12 months, making her the second-fastest Ugandan lady of all time.
Cheptegei was capable of assist 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 every thing”.
“They’re changing into extra financially steady, they’re changing into extra unbiased, and I feel their ex-partners don’t like the very 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 girls have change into a significant concern in Kenya. In 2022 at the very least 34% of girls mentioned that they had skilled bodily violence, in line with a nationwide survey.
“Extra must be accomplished,” Ms Chelimo mentioned. “We’re actually hoping that now it’s one other get up name and for us to return collectively.”