World champion runner Jenny Simpson shared on Instagram that a rare heart condition led to her cardiac arrest during a race in June, announcing her retirement from running. Simpson, 39, disclosed being diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a condition resulting in dangerous heart rhythms that led to her heart stopping. Due to this diagnosis, she emphasized that it would be risky for her to resume running activities, closing that chapter of her career.
During an event in Raleigh, North Carolina, Simpson collapsed while pacing a group of girls in a mile run. She received CPR and defibrillation at the track before being transported to the hospital by medical personnel. In her post, she expressed gratitude for still being alive and discouraged empathy, preferring others to acknowledge their joy at her survival.
Simpson dominated women’s 1,500-meter running in the U.S. for around ten years starting in 2007. Her achievements include winning world titles in 2011, securing two second-place finishes, and earning Olympic bronze in Rio in 2016.