Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in a vital situation in a Kenyan hospital, after allegedly being doused with petrol by a former boyfriend.
The 33-year-old marathon runner, who competed on the current Paris Olympics, has suffered burns to over 75% of her physique, police mentioned.
She was attacked at her dwelling in western Kenya, the place she had been coaching.
There are issues in regards to the rising circumstances of violence in opposition to feminine athletes in Kenya, a few of which have resulted in demise.
Ms Cheptegei is claimed to have been rescued by neighbours after a former associate allegedly poured petrol on her and set her on hearth at her dwelling within the small city of Endebess.
The alleged attacker additionally sustained critical burns within the incident that occurred on Sunday, native police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom instructed journalists.
The 2 are being handled at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the primary city within the area.
“The couple was heard quarrelling outdoors their home. Through the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the girl earlier than burning her,” Mr Kosiom was quoted as saying.
Ms Cheptegei, from a area simply throughout the border in Uganda, is claimed to have purchased a bit of land in Trans Nzoia county and constructed a home, to be close to Kenya’s many athletic coaching centres.
A report filed by an area administrator mentioned the 2 had been wrangling over the piece of land. Police say investigation in regards to the matter is underneath manner.
Ms Cheptegei completed forty fourth within the marathon on the current Paris Olympics.
She additionally received gold on the World Mountain and Path Operating Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
In April 2022, one other feminine runner, Damaris Mutua, was discovered strangled in a house with a pillow over her face within the Rift Valley city of Iten.
It got here months after record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was discovered stabbed to demise in the identical city.
Males have additionally been focused.
Final December, one other Ugandan athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to demise by assailants in Eldoret.