Jenny Simpson announces retirement from running after cardiac arrest
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 2:04 PM
Last updated Aug 21, 2026

Olympic medallist Jenny Simpson, 39, has announced she will not return to running following a cardiac arrest in June at an event in North Carolina. Simpson, a former 1500m world champion, previously required CPR and the use of a defibrillator after collapsing during a training session. She was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition. Despite her diagnosis, Simpson expressed gratitude for her athletic career, which included a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships and a bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Her announcement comes as she finishes her competitive racing career following the 2024 season.
- •Jenny Simpson collapses during a group training event in June.
- •Diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
- •Won gold in 1500m at the 2011 World Championships.
- •Took bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- •Retired from competitive racing at the end of the 2024 season.
- 2:47 PMESPN — Medalist Simpson to stop running after collapse
- 8:07 AMBBC Sport — Olympian Simpson will never run again after cardiac arrest
- 12:53 AMNew York Post — Former Olympian Jenny Simpson reveals why she'll never run again one month after collapsing at race - New York Post
"Olympic bronze medalist Jenny Simpson says her running chapter "has ended" after she collapsed while pacing a mile group this summer.
"Olympic 1500m medallist Jenny Simpson says a "chapter has ended" and she will not return to running after having a cardiac arrest.
"Just over two months after collapsing during a race, Olympic runner Jenny Simpson revealed that she will never compete again.
Sources
External links- ESPNAug 21, 2026, 2:47 PMMedalist Simpson to stop running after collapse
Olympic bronze medalist Jenny Simpson says her running chapter "has ended" after she collapsed while pacing a mile group this summer.
- BBC SportAug 21, 2026, 8:07 AMOlympian Simpson will never run again after cardiac arrest
Olympic 1500m medallist Jenny Simpson says a "chapter has ended" and she will not return to running after having a cardiac arrest.
- New York PostAug 21, 2026, 12:53 AMFormer Olympian Jenny Simpson reveals why she'll never run again one month after collapsing at race - New York Post
Just over two months after collapsing during a race, Olympic runner Jenny Simpson revealed that she will never compete again.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
Olympics•Oct 23, 2026, 3:18 PMClaire Pease showed why she's a dark horse for gymnastics worlds all-around gold
Olympics•Oct 23, 2026, 8:40 AMRemembering Kaziu Deyna: City's Polish pioneer
Olympics•Oct 22, 2026, 11:57 AM‘Finally, I got the attention’: Filip Hrgovic elated to be world champion
Olympics•Oct 22, 2026, 11:45 AMHow to watch Mikaela Shiffrin in FIS Alpine skiing World Cup season opener in Soelden
Olympics•Oct 22, 2026, 10:18 AMNordic combined sets hopes in Macron for Olympic survival after all
Olympics•Oct 21, 2026, 8:31 PMChina slips by the U.S. to earn gold in the women's team final at the world gymnastics championships
