Paris is set to honor the late Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei by naming a sports venue after her, in recognition of her athletic achievements and as a symbol for the city’s commitment to equality and gender justice. The proposal, announced by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, will be officially discussed by city officials this October.

Cheptegei tragically passed away last Thursday at a hospital in Kenya, where she was receiving treatment for severe burns covering 80% of her body. The burns were inflicted during a violent attack by her partner, a heartbreaking case of femicide that has shocked both her home country and the global sports community. At just 33 years old, Cheptegei’s promising life and career were cut short in an incident that highlights the ongoing global issue of gender-based violence.

Rebecca Cheptegei had recently competed in the Paris Olympics, representing Uganda in the women’s marathon, where she finished 44th. Her resilience and determination made her a symbol of strength, and her presence at the games left a lasting impression on the city of Paris.

“Paris will not forget her, and we will dedicate a sports venue to her so that her memory and her story will remain with us, helping us to amplify the message of equality carried by the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Mayor Hidalgo.

In a statement, Paris city hall expressed its condolences and support to Cheptegei’s family, recognizing her as a victim of a heinous act of violence. The mayor’s tribute emphasized Cheptegei’s beauty, strength, and freedom, characteristics she believes were intolerable to her attacker. “An emotional thought for Rebecca Cheptegei. She dazzled us here in Paris,” Hidalgo remarked.

According to the UN, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member every 11 minutes, underscoring the global prevalence of femicide. In Kenya, where Cheptegei’s tragic story unfolded, recent surveys estimate that 41% of women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022.

Paris’ gesture to name a venue after Cheptegei serves not only to honor her legacy but also to raise awareness about gender-based violence, ensuring her story continues to inspire change.