Olympic marathon runner set on fire by her boyfriend in petrol attack

A Ugandan athlete competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics is in critical condition after she was reportedly set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya.

Long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, suffered burns to 75 percent of her body after her boyfriend allegedly doused her with gasoline and set her on fire at her home in Trans Nzoia County, western Kenya, on Sunday, September 1, police said, according to the Associated Press, BBC News and ESPN.

Trans Nzoia County Police Chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom said on Monday, according to media reports, that the attack took place during an argument between Cheptegei and her boyfriend Dickson Ndiema.

“The couple were heard arguing outside their home,” he told journalists, according to the BBC. “During the argument, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman and then burning her.”

Ndiemma also suffered severe burns in the fire. The two were extinguished by neighbours and taken to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in the nearby town of Eldoret for specialist treatment.

A local police report obtained by AP said the couple was heard arguing about the land on which the house was built before the incident.

Kosiom told the local outlet The standard“[Ndiema] is said to have sneaked into the premises at around 2pm on Sunday while the woman and children were at church. When he returned, Dickson, who had procured petrol, began pouring it on Rebecca before setting her on fire.”

He added to the outlet that items including “a five-litre jerry can” belonging to Dickson and “a burnt mobile phone believed to have belonged to Rebecca” were seized for forensic analysis.

According to several reports, the investigation is ongoing.

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Cheptegei finished 44th in the marathon at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in August.

The athlete reportedly moved from Uganda to Transnzoia County after purchasing land in the region to train there.

Cheptegei will compete in the 2024 Olympic Games after winning gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

PEOPLE has contacted the Trans Nzoia County Public Service Board for comment.