Olympics Paris to Name Sports Venue After Deceased Ugandan Olympian Cheptegei, Reports Reuters

The French capital will honor Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically lost her life after being set on fire by her boyfriend, with the naming of a sports facility in her memory. This announcement was made by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Friday.

Cheptegei, a marathon runner who recently competed in the Paris Games, died Thursday, four days after the horrific incident in Kenya, where she was doused in petrol and ignited. The 33-year-old athlete sustained burns to over 75% of her body, according to reports from Kenyan and Ugandan media.

“She dazzled us here in Paris. We saw her beauty, strength, and freedom. It was likely those very qualities that were intolerable to the individual who committed this crime,” Hidalgo stated to reporters. She emphasized that Paris would honor Cheptegei’s memory by dedicating a sports venue to her, ensuring that her story helps promote the message of equality championed by the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Cheptegei is the third high-profile female athlete to be killed in Kenya since October 2021. Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen referred to her death as a loss felt “by the entire region.”

“This is a pivotal moment—not just to mourn the passing of a remarkable Olympian, but to reaffirm our commitment to fostering a society that respects and protects the dignity of every individual,” remarked Ganzi Semu Mugula, Chair of Uganda’s Athletes Commission, on Friday.