Olympian Jenny Simpson Collapses During Pop Up Miles in Raleigh, Hospitalized After CPR

Olympian Jenny Simpson collapsed during a community run in Raleigh, N.C., while pacing a mile group at the Pop Up Miles event on Tuesday and was hospitalized after a “medical incident.”

“- Published Olympic medallist Jenny Simpson is receiving treatment in hospital following a "medical incident" at an event in Raleigh, North Carolina”

BBC

The Los Angeles Times said Simpson “briefly loses pulse” and that she was revived with CPR and a defibrillator, while NBC News reported she received CPR and treatment from an automated external defibrillator (AED) during the emergency.

BBC

NBC News added that Simpson was rushed to the hospital after the collapse, and the BBC said she was pacing a mile group at a Sir Walter Miler pop-up event in Raleigh when she reportedly collapsed and needed CPR.

The BBC also reported that Simpson, 39, retired from competitive running at the end of the 2024 season, and the Los Angeles Times said she is a 2016 bronze medalist in the 1,500 meters at the Rio Olympics.

Organizers for the Sir Walter Running Team said they were “incredibly grateful to the individuals who responded immediately, as well as EMS and the medical professionals who handled the situation with such care, urgency and professionalism.”

In the same statement, the Sir Walter Running Team said, “Jenny is receiving excellent medical care, and our thoughts are with her and her family during this time,” as NBC News and the BBC both relayed.

Canadian Running Magazine

The BBC reported that Simpson’s collapse happened while she was pacing a mile group at the Sir Walter Miler pop-up event on Tuesday, and it said the incident was confirmed in a statement on X.

The Los Angeles Times said there were “few available details about what happened,” while the BBC focused on the hospital treatment following the “medical incident” in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Simpson’s athletic record was central to how outlets framed the incident, with the BBC noting she won gold in the 1500m at the 2011 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The Los Angeles Times said Simpson was a three-time U.S. Olympian and 2016 bronze medalist, and it described her as a 39-year-old middle-distance star who collapsed during a weekly gathering for local running enthusiasts.

NBC News reported that Simpson ran for Team USA in Beijing (2008), London (2012) and then in Rio (2016), and it said she capped her Olympic career with a third-place finish in the 1,500 meters.

Looking ahead, the Los Angeles Times said “This weekend’s two-day meet serves as an important check point for track and field’s hope to break out of the four-year popularity cycle,” while also stating that “No further details have been released” about what happened or her condition.