Marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is in critical condition in a Ugandan hospital after being attacked by her boyfriend. The athlete, who placed 44th in the Olympic marathon in Paris, sustained burns on 75% of her body after her boyfriend doused her with gasoline and set her on fire.

We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her pic.twitter.com/rgnWvgTpkb

— Uganda Athletics Federation-UAF (@UgaAthletics2) September 3, 2024

According to local journalists, the attack occurred after a quarrel between the 33-year-old and her partner, following a loud noise.

I did talk to Kenyan journalist working with @TheStarKenya Matthew Ndanyi filed this report regarding Rebecca Cheptegei

Cheptegei, who represented Uganda in the marathon at thejust concluded Paris Olympics was injured in an attack by her alleged boyfriend in Trans Nzoia county… pic.twitter.com/r2W646zOZg

— Omutegeke | ???️ (@CliveKyazze) September 3, 2024

Police sources, as reported by Sky News, indicate that the couple was arguing over a piece of land Cheptegei had purchased in the Trans Nzoia area to be close to the sports facilities there.

The incident took place last Sunday, and the perpetrator, Dixon Diema, was also injured and is being treated in a hospital.