Ugandan Olympic marathon athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei dies at 33.
She died on Thursday, September 5, four days after her ex-boyfriend poured petrol on her and set her ablaze in Kenya.
Cheptegei, who competed at the just concluded Olympic in Paris, France, suffered more than 75 percent burn on her body during Sunday's attack.
This latest attack on Cheptegei makes it the third prominent sportswoman to be killed in Kenya since October 2021.
In a condolence message posted on his X handle, the president of Uganda Olympics Committee, Donald Rukare condemned violence against women.
He said: "We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei... following a vicious attack by her boyfriend.
"May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women."
The athlete, who finished 44th in Paris, was admitted in a hospital at the Kenyan Rift Valley city of Eldoret after the attack.
Senior Director of Clinical Services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Owen Menach confirmed that Cheptegei died on Thursday morning at 5:30 am after her organs failed.
He assured that a full report regarding the circumstances of her death would be released this afternoon.
Cheptegei's ex-lover also sustained 30 percent burns during the incident and was admitted at the intensive care unit of the same hospital.
Kenyan Sports Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen described Cheptegei's death as a loss to the entire region.
"This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must do more to combat gender-based violence in our society, which in recent years has reared its ugly head in elite sporting circles," he said.
The athlete's father, Joseph Cheptegei, who spoke to journalists in Eldoret, pleaded with the government to protect her children and properties so that strangers will not invade the late athlete's home and abscond with her properties.
A 2022 report by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime revealed that 41 percent of married women faced violence.
The report also revealed that African countries recorded the largest number of killings of women.
In October 2021, Olympian athlete, Agnes Tirop was found dead in her home in the town of Iten, with multiple stab on her neck.
Though her husband, Ibrahim Rotich was charged with her murder and he pleaded not guilty. The case is ongoing.
The death of 25-year-old Tirop shocked Kenya athlete's, who jointly set up a foundation, Tirop's Angels in 2022 to combat domestic violence.
One of the founders of the non-profit organisation, Joan Chelimo told Reuters that female athletes were at high risk of exploitation and violence at the hands of men due to their money.
"They get into these traps of predators who pose in their lives as lovers," she added.
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