Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei was honoured on Sunday, September 8, at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Cheptegei tragically passed away on Thursday, September 5, in Eldoret, Kenya, after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. The 33-year-old athlete had recently competed in the just concluded Olympics.
After the T54 and T12 marathons, a brief spoken tribute was broadcasted over the public address system, accompanied by a photo of Cheptegei displayed on the large screen near the finish line at the Esplanades de Invalides.
Describing Cheptegei as a ‘victim of femicide’, the announcer then invited the crowd to join a minute’s applause in honour of the runner.
Paris 2024 organisers in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, Para World Athletics, and World Athletics organised the tribute.