It had been less than a month since the Paris Olympics concluded. Sports fans still reminisced about the incredible moments they had witnessed on the grandest stage. However, no one was ready for the shock they would receive as news of Rebecca Cheptegei’s demise surfaced. Track and field fans had witnessed the 33-year-old run the Olympic marathon and couldn’t believe their ears.

However, things only got worse as the details of Cheptegei’s brutal demise became public. The marathon runner’s former partner “ambushed” the Olympian as she returned from church, according to the BBC. The incident resulted in severe burn injuries, which led to Cheptegei’s passing. Now the athlete’s community has revealed just how deeply the incident impacted them.

The lasting scars of an untimely loss

Rebecca Cheptegei didn’t just make her family proud after making it to the Olympics. The entire community was proud of having an Olympian among them. So many of the locals gathered with flowers in hand to pay respects to the athlete, at the site of the attack. “I have not eaten since that day,” neighbor Agnes Barabara told BBC.

Cheptegei’s neighbor added that she had never witnessed a more brutal scene, and it’s one she’ll never forget. Fellow marathoner and activist Joan Chelimo visited the site and also spoke about the tragedy. “I became so emotional when I learned that the kids were also witnessing what happened to their mum… It has really created an impact,” Chelimo said.

Rebecca Cheptegei battled for life for four days in the hospital before succumbing to her injuries. The athlete’s ex-partner and attacker also sustained wounds during the horrific incident. According to another BBC report, the man died of his wounds on Monday. However, the community remembers the Olympian for everything she achieved in life.

Rebecca Cheptegei was a trailblazer

The late 33-year-old was not only a gifted and disciplined athlete but also a trailblazer. Joan Chelimo described how Cheptegei came from a “really humble background” and broke several gender norms in her quest for athletic glory. As a fellow marathon runner, Chelimo was acutely aware of just how hard the Paris Olympian had to work to make it the grandest stage.

However, Rebecca Cheptegei wasn’t just an example of someone who beat the odds, but also her family’s breadwinner. “Rebecca used to help us financially. She was the one who helped us pay school fees because I have many children. Through her, we had a way out of our dire financial situation. Now that hope is gone.” said her heartbroken father, Joseph Cheptegei.

The tragic passing of Rebecca Cheptegei has plunged her family into grief and left a lasting impact on the community. However, even in passing, the late marathon runner continues to inspire a new generation of girls to beat the odds and excel in life.