Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei to be honored with memorial service on September 14
The life and achievements of Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei will be celebrated on September 14 with a memorial service in her hometown, organizers announced on Sunday. The 33-year-old athlete, who represented Uganda in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, passed away last Thursday.
Cheptegei’s funeral will take place in Kongasis sub-county, Bukwo district, in eastern Uganda, where her family home is located. This region, situated on the border with Kenya, will serve as the gathering place for family, friends, and admirers of the talented athlete, who was also a sergeant in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces.
Her legacy as Uganda’s women’s marathon record holder and her service to her country will be fondly remembered. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe praised Cheptegei’s versatility as a runner and expressed his commitment to enhancing safeguarding policies to better protect female athletes.
“Rebecca was an incredibly versatile runner who still had much to contribute to the world of athletics,” Coe said, honoring her memory and reflecting on her remarkable career.
Cheptegei’s story has drawn attention to the importance of addressing gender-based violence, with global organizations like the United Nations condemning acts of violence against women. Her memorial will serve as a reminder of her contributions to sports and her lasting impact on her community and country.
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