Paris pays brief tribute to Rebecca Cheptegei after her death

After the Paralympics marathon on Sunday, a picture of Rebecca Cheptegei appeared on a giant screen as a tribute to the Ugandan runner who died on Thursday, four days after she was doused with petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya.

Spectators applauded when the face of Cheptegei, who took part in the marathon at the Paris Olympic Games, was shown on the Esplanade des Invalides.

Cheptegei, 33, suffered burns to more than 75 percent of her body in the attack on Sunday, Kenyan and Ugandan media reported.

This is the latest attack on a female athlete in the country. She is the third prominent athlete to be killed in Kenya since October 2021.

On Friday, the mayor of Paris said the French capital would honor Cheptegei by naming a sports facility after her.