Rebecca Cheptegei

The city of Paris plans to honor the late Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei by naming a sports venue in her memory. Announced by Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Friday, the proposal will be reviewed by city officials in October. Cheptegei, 33, died on Thursday from severe burns inflicted by her partner in Kenya. She had recently competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, finishing 44th. The Paris city hall expressed solidarity with Cheptegei’s family, highlighting the tragedy of femicide, noting that Cheptegei was a victim of such violence shortly after her Olympic participation. Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, reportedly attacked her with gasoline during a dispute. Both were receiving treatment at the same hospital. Hidalgo remarked, “Paris will remember Rebecca Cheptegei for her beauty, strength, and freedom. Naming a sports venue after her will ensure her memory endures.” UN Women and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime report that a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member every 11 minutes globally. In Kenya, about 41% of women have experienced such violence.