An Olympic athlete beloved by her country and fellow teammates and competitors has died after suffering the worst sort of domestic violence imaginable.

Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, a long-distance runner from Uganda, passed away on Thursday from the grievous injuries sustained days earlier when her boyfriend doused her with gasoline and set her ablaze during a domestic dispute, according to the BBC.

The horrific act resulting in Cheptegei's death has been broadly condemned even as authorities acknowledge that domestic violence against women is disturbingly prominent in East African culture.

A tragic death

The news of Cheptegei's untimely demise was shared Thursday on social media by the Uganda Athletics Federation, which posted a picture of the runner doing what she did best.

"We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace," the UAF said.

Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, also shared a picture of Cheptegei in better times as he spoke out against the terrible tragedy that befell the beloved athlete.

"We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei OLY following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women," Rukare wrote. "This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure."

Domestic dispute over land purchase in Kenya

According to the BBC, the Ugandan runner Cheptegei actually lived and trained in neighboring Kenya, and per local authorities, it is believed that the fatal attack stemmed from a dispute with her boyfriend about her purchase of land and construction of a home in Kenya to be closer to that nation's top-notch training facilities.

The local police chief was quoted as telling reporters, "The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her."

The badly burned Cheptegei was transported to a hospital in the city of Eldoret, where Dr. Kimani Mbugua praised the hospital staff for doing everything they could to save her but that the athlete "had a severe percentage of burns, which unfortunately led to multi-organ failure, which ultimately led to her passing this morning."

Demands for justice

Peter Ogwang, the sports minister of Uganda, told the BBC that transportation and funeral arrangements were being made to lay Cheptegei to rest in her home nation, and said, "We mourn with the family as a country." He also lamented that the runner had tried but was unable to speak with him about a "family problem" while in Paris, France, for the Olympics last month, where she finished 44th in the marathon.

Other athletes that Cheptegei trained with and competed against praised her for her generosity and outgoing personality while condemning the horrible act that ended her life and devastated her family.

The runner's father, Joseph Cheptegei, mourned the loss of his "very supportive" daughter and wondered how her two daughters would continue with their education with the family having "lost our breadwinner."

He also demanded "justice for my daughter" following the most "inhumane act" he'd ever seen. Police are investigating the incident and the former boyfriend, who suffered less severe burns in the attack on Cheptegei, was hospitalized in the intensive care unit at the same hospital in Eldoret but was said to be "improving and stable."