Athletes continue to pay tribute to fallen Cheptegei

From left: Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru, Italy's Giovanna Epis, Israel's Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Ethiopia's Gotytom Gebreslase, Kenya's Selly Chepyego Kaptich, USA's Lindsay Flanagan, Uganda's Rebecca Cheptegei, Japan's Rika Kaseda and Peru's Zaida Ramos compete in the women's marathon final during the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. [AFP] 

Athletes continued to pay tribute to fallen Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei who died in Eldoret on Thursday after a horrifying attack.

On Friday, a day after the tragic death of the Ugandan star who was set ablaze at her home in Kinyoro, Trans Nzoia County on Sunday, Kenya’s women athletes condemned the brutal attack.

A section of athletes said Cheptegei’s tragic death rekindled memories of the murder of former double world bronze medallist Agnes Tirop who was found dead in her house in Iten on October 13, 2021.

Viola Cheptoo Lagat, a New York City marathon runner-up, said Cheptegei’s life was taken away at her prime.

Lagat, who is the founder of Tirop Angels, a group established to fight Gender-Based Violence in sport, said her death, through a heinous attack, ignited memories of Agnes Tirop’s murder in 2021.

“It is sad that we are reminded of what happened to Agnes Tirop. What is happening is a copycat situation of what was witnessed three years ago when Tirop was brutally murdered a few weeks after participating in the Olympic Games. Rebecca’s life has been taken away in the same manner,” Lagat said.

The marathoner went on to say: “What message are we sending when we are not ending what is happening to women in the running community?”

Speaking in Iten where she trains, Lagat said athletes have been praying for the end of GBV in sport while running campaigns to stop the menace.

“We thought the killing of Agnes Tirop would be a lesson to all of us, that violence is not a solution. We feel like it is not going to end. The cases are on the rise.

“We have gone to the streets to raise our voices and we have authorities? Are we making use of institutions?” she said.

Romanian Olympian Joan Chelimo, who competed alongside the late Cheptegei at the Paris Olympics women’s marathon said the Ugandan athlete was full of promise before it was cut short.

“I was with her at the Paris Olympics, and we are heavy with grief,” said Chelimo.

Chelimo said Olympians as well as women athletes under Tirop Angels caucus sympathised with Cheptegei’s family, friends and teammates as they mourn her demise.

The Kenyan-born Romanian athlete asked sports bodies and the government to take meaningful steps in protecting women and girls in sport.

“What happened to Rebecca echoes the tragedy that led to the formation of Tirop Angels to fight GBV in honour of Agnes Tirop, who was killed in Iten (in October 2021),” the former Paris Half Marathon champion said.

She added: “Let us honor the memories of Cheptegei and Tirop and other victims by continuing the fight against GBV in sports and advocating for a safe society.”

Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet said she dedicated her race at the Zurich Diamond League to the fallen Ugandan marathoner.

“Today at Zurich, I am racing against time and against GBV. Every step will mean something, every stride will be for Rebecca and all victims of GBV,” Chebet, who eventually won the 5000m race in Zurich, said.

Several Iten-based athletes including half marathoner Joseph Njuguna said the chilling murders of top athletes was causing panic, especially among budding athletes.

Njuguna encourages athletes to speak up whenever they are abused by their partners.

Another female athlete, Kenyan-born Bahraini star Damaris Muthee was attacked and killed in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet in April 2022.

Benjamin Kiplagat, another Ugandan athlete, was attacked and killed by assailants in Eldoret on December 31, 2023.