World champion athlete Jenny Simpson shared that a rare heart condition led to her experiencing cardiac arrest during a race in June, leading her to make the decision not to resume her running career. In a recent Instagram announcement, the 39-year-old Simpson disclosed her diagnosis with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a condition that resulted in dangerous heart rhythms that led to her heart stopping. Due to this diagnosis, she emphasized the risk of returning to running, stating that this chapter of her life has come to a close, but expressing gratitude that her story continues.
The incident occurred while Simpson was assisting a group of young runners during a mile race in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she suddenly collapsed. Prompt CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator were administered before she was swiftly taken to the hospital for further medical attention. In her message, Simpson addressed the responses following the incident, preferring well-wishers to express joy at her survival rather than sympathy.
A prominent figure in women’s 1,500-meter running for nearly a decade starting in 2007, Simpson achieved significant success, including winning world championships in 2011, securing two second-place finishes, and earning an Olympic bronze medal in Rio in 2016.