USA's Jennifer Simpson holds up her bronze medal from the women's 1500m at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Image accompanying BBC Sport Athletics’ report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Jenny Simpson, a former 1500m world champion, has announced she will not return to running after suffering a cardiac arrest. The 39-year-old American collapsed during a mile group event in North Carolina in June. Simpson required CPR and a defibrillator before being hospitalized.
Simpson was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called ARVC, which can cause heart muscle cells to die. This condition makes it dangerous for her to continue running. She expressed gratitude for her career and the experiences it brought. Read more racing coverage.
Simpson represented the USA in three Olympics, winning a bronze medal at Rio 2016. She retired from competitive racing at the end of 2024. Simpson also won gold at the 2011 World Championships and silver in 2013 and 2017. Related: Duplantis's 'Gold' Anthem Set for World Ultimate Championships.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from BBC Sport Athletics. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about Jenny Simpson Ends Running Career After Cardiac Arrest?
Olympic medalist Jenny Simpson announces she will not return to running following a cardiac arrest. Jenny Simpson, a former 1500m world champion, has announced she will not return to running after suffering a cardiac arrest. The 39-year-old American collapsed during a mile group event in North Carolina in June. Simpson required CPR and a defibrillator before being hospitalized.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on August 21, 2026. The underlying BBC Sport Athletics report was dated August 21, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from BBC Sport Athletics. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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