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Felix, who has been very vocal over maternal welfare amongst female athletes, has revealed how to abate domestic violence subjected to them following Rebecca Cheptegei's unfortunate demise last September.
American sprint icon Allyson Felix has expressed her heartbreak over the tragic death of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who was murdered in September 2024 by her former partner in Kenya.
Felix has called on athletes to use their platforms to raise awareness and advocate against domestic violence, which continues to claim the lives of women globally.
Speaking to the BBC, Felix described Cheptegei’s murder as “devastating” and lamented the prevalence of such incidents. “A woman so accomplished, so celebrated was horribly subjected to something like that in this day and age,” she said.
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16:20 - 23.12.2024
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Cheptegei’s death, after being doused in petrol and set alight by her ex-boyfriend, has reignited urgent calls to address femicide in Kenya. The country grapples with one of Africa’s highest rates of violence against women. In January 2024 alone, over 10 women were reported as victims of femicide.
Cheptegei’s case is the third high-profile murder of a female athlete in Kenya in recent years. In 2021, Agnes Tirop, a record-breaking runner, was found stabbed to death, allegedly by her partner. In 2022, Damaris Muthee Mutua, a Kenyan-born Bahrain athlete, was strangled in her home, with the main suspect still at large.
Felix, an 11-time Olympic medalist and a newly elected member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, highlighted the role of athletes in fostering societal change.
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“It is such a real problem, and as sports people who have a platform and are role models, we can take ownership of this issue,” she said. “The messages we put out—that this is unacceptable for anyone—are something we can control.”
Felix has long been an advocate for gender equality and the welfare of female athletes. In 2024, she introduced the first-ever nursery at the Olympic Village to support athlete mothers. She now hopes to bring the same energy and commitment to her role within the IOC.
“My job will be to listen to athletes, hear what they are going through, and bring a new energy to the commission,” Felix explained. “With my experience, I can contribute significantly regarding female athletes, equality, and representation. I really want to have an impact there.”
Her call for athletes to lead by example underscores the potential of sports figures to influence societal attitudes and advocate for systemic change.
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06:02 - 06.09.2024
Rebecca Cheptegei & other Kenyan athletes whose lives were cut shot by their lovers
Uganda’s Rebecca Cheptegei succumbed to burn wounds following an attacker her boyfriend, bringing back memories of other Kenyan runners who were tragically killed by their lovers.
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