The global athletics governing body, World Athletics has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the tragic death of Ugandan distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who passed away on September 5, 2024.
The 33-year-old athlete succumbed to severe injuries from an alleged domestic abuse attack.
Cheptegei, celebrated for her versatility across various disciplines, had a distinguished career spanning over 15 years.
Her most notable achievement came in 2022 when she won the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, showcasing her exceptional talent in both up and downhill races.
Starting her career as a talented teenager, Cheptegei first represented Uganda at the 2010 World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, where she earned individual 15th place and a bronze in the team competition. Her subsequent performances included notable finishes at the World Military Games and the African Cross Country Championships.
In 2021, Cheptegei made her marathon debut, setting a Ugandan record of 2:22:47 in 2022, a remarkable feat achieved just six weeks after her World Mountain and Trail Running Championship victory. Her continued success included a 14th-place finish in the marathon at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and a 44th-place finish in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed profound condolences, stating, “Our sport has lost a talented athlete in the most tragic and unthinkable circumstances. Rebecca was an incredibly versatile runner who still had lots left to give on the roads, mountains, and cross-country trails.”
Coe also highlighted the need for a review of safeguarding policies, noting that World Athletics will work to enhance measures to protect athletes from abuse outside the sport.
“I have been in touch with our Council Members in Africa to see how we can help not only in our capacity as the governing body of the sport Rebecca competed in but to assess how our safeguarding policies might be enhanced,” Coe added.
