American sprint legend Allyson Felix has expressed her sorrow over the tragic death of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who was killed by her former partner in September 2024. Felix, a long-time advocate for the welfare of female athletes, spoke out about the issue of domestic violence, especially after Cheptegei’s horrific murder in Kenya.
Felix called on athletes to use their platforms to bring awareness to the ongoing issue of domestic violence, which continues to claim the lives of women worldwide. Speaking with the BBC, she described Cheptegei’s death as “devastating,” pointing out the shocking nature of the incident, given Cheptegei’s accomplishments. “A woman so accomplished, so celebrated was horribly subjected to something like that in this day and age,” Felix said.
Cheptegei’s murder has renewed calls to address femicide in Kenya, where the country faces one of Africa’s highest rates of violence against women. In January 2024 alone, more than 10 women were killed in femicides. Cheptegei’s death was the third high-profile murder of a female athlete in Kenya in recent years. In 2021, Agnes Tirop, a celebrated runner, was fatally stabbed by her partner, and in 2022, Damaris Muthee Mutua was strangled, with her murderer still unidentified.
Felix, who has earned 11 Olympic medals and recently joined the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission, emphasized the importance of athletes in driving societal change. “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 stated. “The messages we put out—that this is unacceptable for anyone—are something we can control.”
A strong advocate for gender equality and the welfare of female athletes, Felix made significant strides in 2024 by establishing the first-ever nursery in the Olympic Village to support athlete mothers. As a newly appointed member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Felix is determined to use her platform for change. “My job will be to listen to athletes, hear what they are going through, and bring a new energy to the commission,” she said. “With my experience, I can contribute significantly regarding female athletes, equality, and representation. I really want to have an impact there.”
Felix’s call for athletes to lead by example underscores how influential sports figures can be in changing societal attitudes and advocating for systemic reform.
