What you need to know:
- In a poignant tribute to the memory of Rebecca Cheptegei, the city of Paris will dedicate a sports venue to the Ugandan Olympic runner, following her tragic death.
- As Paris prepares to honour Cheptegei with the dedicated sports venue, her story will continue to resonate, symbolizing both the celebration of her athletic achievements and a call for greater efforts to combat domestic violence and support female athletes.
In a poignant tribute to the memory of Rebecca Cheptegei, the city of Paris will dedicate a sports venue to the Ugandan Olympic runner, following her tragic death. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on Friday that the venue will be named in Cheptegei’s honour, celebrating her life and athletic achievements while also highlighting the broader issue of gender-based violence.
Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics held last month, finishing 44th. Her promising career was cut short under harrowing circumstances when she was brutally attacked at her home in Kenya. On Thursday, Cheptegei succumbed to severe burns inflicted by her boyfriend, who reportedly doused her in petrol and set her on fire. The assault, which took place in the presence of her children, left her with 80 percent burns.
In her announcement, Mayor Hidalgo expressed deep sorrow and admiration for Cheptegei’s courage and resilience. “She dazzled us here in Paris. We saw her beauty, her strength, her freedom, and it was in all likelihood these very qualities that were intolerable to the individual who committed this heinous act,” Hidalgo said. She emphasized that the naming of a sports venue after Cheptegei will ensure that her memory and message of equality endure within the city and beyond.
The news of Cheptegei’s death has reverberated across the globe, with widespread condemnation and grief from the athletic community and beyond. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed profound sadness over the loss, highlighting Cheptegei’s versatility and potential in the sport. Coe also mentioned ongoing discussions within the governing council to strengthen safeguarding policies and protect athletes from abuse.
Uganda’s First Lady and Education Minister Janet Museveni also expressed her condolences, describing the incident as deeply disturbing. “The tragic death of our daughter Rebecca Cheptegei due to domestic violence is a great loss,” Museveni wrote on social media. “My heartfelt condolences go out to the athletics community, her family, friends, and the entire nation.”
Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen acknowledged the attack as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address gender-based violence. The organisers of the Paris Olympics have voiced their profound indignation and sadness, reflecting the broader international reaction to Cheptegei’s untimely death.
As Paris prepares to honour Cheptegei with the dedicated sports venue, her story will continue to resonate, symbolizing both the celebration of her athletic achievements and a call for greater efforts to combat domestic violence and support female athletes.
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