The Paris municipality named a sports stadium after Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei following her tragic death in recognition of her merits in the world of sports. The announcement was made by Mayor Anne Hidalgo after the passing of the young athlete due to a violent domestic attack.
Cheptegei was a participant at the 2024 Paris Olympics and finished in position 44 in the women’s marathon. According to police reports, Cheptegei died after her boyfriend, one Dickson Ndiema, allegedly set her on fire during a disagreement at their home in Trans Nzoia, Kenya. This left her with severe burns of more than 80 percent of her body, succumbing later to her injuries on September 5, 2024, after undergoing treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Mayor Hidalgo said, “Sadly this young Ugandan died too quickly after having spread, on the occasion of the Paris Olympics, all her beauty, all her strength, all her spirit that inspires so many young girls. “The dedication of the venue would mean a commitment to be avowed by Cheptegei’s legacy in ideals of equality and resilience.
Cheptegei’s death sent shockwaves across the athletic fraternity, with cries for justice from the Ugandan Athletics Federation and Kenyan officials. Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen berated the growing cases of gender-based violence in sports, which needed immediate action.
A sports arena to be named after her would be a strong reminder of Cheptegei’s exploits, and how one young woman fought against gender-based violence.
