Paris plans to honor late Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei by naming a sports venue after her. Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced the proposal, which will be discussed by city officials in October.
Cheptegei, 33, died after suffering severe burns in an attack by her partner, Dickson Ndiema. She had competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics just weeks earlier, finishing 44th. Paris city hall expressed support for her family, calling the incident a tragic femicide.
Ndiema allegedly set Cheptegei on fire during a dispute. Both were treated in the same hospital. Mayor Hidalgo said, “Paris will not forget her,” pledging to keep her memory alive with the dedication.
This tragic case highlights the global issue of violence against women, with UN statistics showing that, on average, a woman or girl is killed by a family member or partner every 11 minutes.