Paris Paralympics 2024 pays tribute to Uganda’s late Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei

The late Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei has been honored with a moving tribute after the marathon events on Sunday.

As her image appeared on the giant screen at the Esplanade des Invalides, the crowd erupted in applause, paying homage to the marathoner who tragically lost her life in a brutal attack just days earlier.

Cheptegei, 33, died on Thursday after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya, succumbing to severe burns that affected over 75 percent of her body. Her death marks the third killing of a female athlete in Kenya since 2021, sending shockwaves through the sports community. The attack occurred just weeks after she competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, where she placed 44th.

In response to her tragic passing, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced that the city would honor Cheptegei’s legacy by naming a sports facility in her memory. “She dazzled us here in Paris. We saw her. Her beauty, her strength, her freedom, and it was in all likelihood her beauty, strength and freedom which were intolerable for the person who committed this murder,” Hidalgo said. “Paris will not forget her. We’ll dedicate a sports venue to her so that her memory and her story remains among us and helps carry the message of equality, which is a message carried by the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Cheptegei’s death is a grim reminder of the violence faced by female athletes in Kenya, where she becomes the third prominent sportswoman killed in less than three years. Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen described her death as a profound loss “to the entire region,” reflecting the wider impact of her passing beyond just the sporting world.

In Uganda, where Cheptegei was a national hero, the sorrow was palpable. Ganzi Semu Mugula, chairman of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Athletes Commission, called for action, saying, “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.”

As the Paralympic Games continue in Paris, Cheptegei’s legacy lives on, with her image and story serving as a powerful reminder of both her athletic accomplishments and the urgent need to address gender-based violence.