Paris Sports Venue Renamed in Honor of Ugandan Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei.

A sports facility in Paris has been renamed in honor of Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, following her tragic death after being set on fire by her partner.

The 33-year-old athlete, who sustained burns over 80% of her body in the attack, passed away on Thursday in a Kenyan hospital. Medical officials confirmed that Cheptegei had been doused in petrol and set ablaze at her home by her ex-boyfriend on Sunday.

Despite efforts to stabilize her at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries. Dr. Owen Menach, the hospital’s acting director, confirmed her death.

In tribute to her memory, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced that a sports venue in the city has been renamed in Cheptegei’s honor, as reported by Le Monde.

She said: ‘Paris will not forget her.

‘We will dedicate a sports site to her so that her memory and her history remain among us and contribute to carrying the message of equality, which is a message carried by the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

‘We saw her. Her beauty, her strength, her freedom, and it was probably her beauty, her strength and her freedom that were intolerable for the person who committed this murder.’

Cheptegei participated in the marathon at the Olympics last month, finishing in 44th place.

Kenyan police confirmed that the athlete was assaulted at her residence in Trans Nzoia County, near the Ugandan border, where she had recently moved to access better training facilities in Kenya.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom stated that her ex-partner, Dickson Ndiema, purchased petrol, doused her with it, and set her on fire during a dispute on Sunday.

At the scene, police recovered a five-litre jerry can, a bag, and a burned phone, as reported by The Nation.

According to Dr. Menach, Ndiema, the alleged attacker, has also been hospitalized with burns covering 30% of his body.