Three-time Olympian Jenny Simpson collapsed while she was pacing a group at an event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 16, 2026. Initially, the 39-year-old did not have a pulse, so CPR was administered, and then an automated external defibrillator was used before she was transported to the hospital.
LetsRun.com was the first to report Simpson’s medical emergency. The community track event was hosted by Sir Walter Running. Simpson not only took part in the event, but the event also featured a chance to meet the Olympian.
In a post on Instagram, the “Sir Walter Running Team” wrote, “We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who responded immediately, as well as EMS and the medical professionals who handled the situation with such care, urgency, and professionalism.”
The post went on to say that Simpson was “receiving excellent medical care” and that their thoughts would be with Simpson and her family during this time.
Simpson, the 1500-meter world champion in 2011, won the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Furthermore, the Olympian also won the silver medal at Worlds in 2013 and 2017.
Sources:
People: Olympic Medalist Jenny Simpson Collapses at Track Meet with No Pulse, Being Treated at Hospital by Anna Lazarus Caplan
ESPN: Olympic medalist Jenny Simpson collapses after medical episode by Associated Press
Image by Norman Z Courtesy of Flickr – Creative Commons
