Paris will pay tribute to Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically died after a brutal attack by her boyfriend, by naming a sports facility in her honour. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made the announcement on Friday, emphasising the city’s commitment to preserving Cheptegei’s memory and promoting equality.
Cheptegei, a 33-year-old marathon runner who competed in the Paris Olympic Games last month, died on Thursday, four days after being set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya. The attack has shocked the sporting world and brought renewed attention to violence against female athletes in Kenya, where she is the third prominent sportswoman to be killed since 2021.
‘She dazzled us here in Paris with her beauty, strength, and freedom. These very qualities were likely intolerable for the person who committed this murder,’ Hidalgo said during the announcement. ‘Paris will not forget her. We will dedicate a sports venue in her name so her story and message of equality live on.’
Cheptegei, who placed 44th in her Olympic debut in Paris, suffered burns to over 75 percent of her body in the horrific attack. Kenyan and Ugandan media have widely reported on the tragedy, sparking widespread grief.
Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen described Cheptegei’s death as a significant loss to both Kenya and Uganda, while Uganda’s Athletes Commission Chair, Ganzi Semu Mugula, called for action:
‘This is a critical moment—not just to mourn the loss of a remarkable Olympian, but to commit ourselves to creating a society that respects and protects the dignity of every individual.’
By dedicating a sports facility to Cheptegei, Paris aims to ensure her legacy endures and to send a strong message of solidarity and equality in the face of such tragic violence.
