American Olympian rushed to hospital after collapsing and losing pulse in a scary moment
American Olympic athlete Jenny Simpson was taken to the hospital after a scary moment when she collapsed during a race.
Jenny, 39, is a long-distance runner who won bronze in the women’s 1500m at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She also won gold at the 2011 World Championships and silver medals in the same event in 2013 and 2017. She retired from competitive running after finishing the New York Marathon in 2024.
On Tuesday, Jenny was pacing a mile group at a Pop Up Miles event in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she got to meet some fans. But soon after, she collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital. She needed CPR to restart her heart because she had no pulse at the time. Thankfully, her pulse came back before she left, and now she is recovering with medical care.
The event organizers, Sir Walter Running, shared a statement: “We are very grateful to those who acted quickly, as well as to EMS and medical staff for their care and professionalism. Jenny is getting excellent care, and our thoughts are with her and her family. We also thank everyone who has sent support. Please keep Jenny and her family in your prayers as we hope for the best.”
Jenny didn’t just run the 1500m; she also competed in the 3000m at several Olympics, including 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London as part of Team USA. She even held the American record for the 3000m steeplechase during her impressive career.