World champion runner Jenny Simpson recently shared that a rare heart condition led to her experiencing cardiac arrest during a race in June, leading her to retire from running. In an Instagram post, the 39-year-old disclosed that she had been diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a condition that resulted in dangerous heart rhythms causing her heart to stop. Due to this diagnosis, it is deemed unsafe for her to resume running, marking the end of that chapter in her life. Despite this setback, Simpson expressed gratitude for being alive and optimistic about her future.
During an event in Raleigh, North Carolina, Simpson collapsed while pacing a group of girls in a mile run. Immediate CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator were administered before she was swiftly taken to the hospital by medics. In her post, she requested not to receive sympathy but rather to hear that others are glad she survived the incident, reflecting her own appreciation for being alive.
Simpson had a successful career as America’s leading women’s 1,500-meter runner for about a decade starting in 2007. Among her achievements are winning world championships in 2011, securing second place twice, and claiming an Olympic bronze medal in Rio in 2016.