A Ugandan marathon runner, who recently competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, is in serious condition with burns affecting over 75% of her body following an incident in which her reported boyfriend allegedly poured gasoline on her.

Rebecca Cheptegei, aged 33, is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, after the incident on Sunday afternoon, according to reports from newspapers in both Kenya and Uganda.

Her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, also suffered burns during the altercation, described by police as a domestic violence case. “The man was also caught in the same fire and sustained serious burns,” stated Trans-Nzoia County police chief Jeremiah Ole Kosiom to The Star newspaper in Nairobi.

Dr. Owen Menach, acting CEO of the hospital, mentioned that Cheptegei has sustained both external and inhalation burns. “She is a high-profile patient and we are doing all we can to save her life,” Menach informed The Star.

In the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, Cheptegei finished in 44th place.

Authorities: Suspect in attack on Ugandan athlete ‘set her ablaze’

Marangach was also admitted to the ICU with burns covering around 30% of his body, but he is reported to be in a more stable condition than Cheptegei, according to Dr. Menach.

According to police, Marangach was Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend, and he entered her home in Endebess, western Kenya, before the incident took place.

“It is believed the boyfriend sneaked into the property around 2 p.m. on Sunday while the wife and children were attending church,” Kosiom told The Standard newspaper. “Upon their return, Dickson, who had brought petrol, poured it on Rebecca before igniting it.” Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, mentioned that the couple had been separated for a long time and had a land dispute, which was leading them to appear before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kenya. He alleged that Marangach attempted to claim a piece of land that his daughter had bought and developed close to her training facility in western Kenya.

Kosiom confirmed that disputes over land between Cheptegei and Marangach were ongoing and that the police investigation is still active.

“Neighbors helped to extinguish the fire and took both victims to the hospital,” Kosiom noted. Authorities discovered a gas can as well as a burnt mobile phone believed to belong to Cheptegei at the crime scene.

Assault on female Olympian adds to troubling trend in Kenya

This incident is among several recent cases involving the tragic deaths of Ugandan athletes.

In a separate incident on December 31, 2023, Olympian Benjamin Kiplagat was fatally stabbed in Eldoret, according to reports by the BBC.

Also, in April 2022, Kenyan-born distance runner Damaris Muthee, who ran for Bahrain, was found strangled at the house where she was training in Iten, Kenya, as reported by the BBC. Just six months prior, Olympian Agnes Tirop was also stabbed to death in the same town.

Contributing: Reuters.