Olympics-Paris pays short tribute to Cheptegei

Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Women's Marathon - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary - August 26, 2023 Uganda's Rebecca Cheptegei in action during the women's marathon final /Dylan Martinez/File Photo

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

Spectators applauded as the face of Cheptegei, who took part in the Paris Olympics marathon, was shown on the Esplanade des Invalides.

Cheptegei died in the latest attack on a female athlete in the country.

Cheptegei, 33, suffered burns to more than 75% of her body in Sunday's attack, Kenyan and Ugandan media reported.

She is the third prominent sportswoman to be killed in Kenya since October 2021.

On Friday, Paris mayor said the French capital would pay tribute to Cheptegei by naming a sports facility in her honour.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge)