Former 1500m world champion Jenny Simpson has confirmed she will not return to competitive running after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest in June while pacing a mile group at an event in North Carolina. The 39-year-old Olympic medalist was subsequently diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Medical Emergency and Emergency Response in North Carolina
The medical emergency occurred in June when Simpson collapsed while pacing runners at the Sir Walter Running Pop-Up Mile in Raleigh, North Carolina. Immediate intervention on the track included CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator before emergency medical personnel transported her to UNC Rex Hospital. The Sir Walter Running Team later issued a statement expressing gratitude for the swift response from medics at the event.
We are 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, the statement read. It added that: Jenny is receiving excellent medical care, and our thoughts are with her and her family during this time.
Photo: The Independent
After arriving at the hospital, Simpson suffered another cardiac arrest and was placed on life support. She was subsequently transferred to Duke Hospital for more advanced treatment. Reflecting on the severity of the medical crisis, Simpson shared an extensive update on Instagram, noting that her heart and lungs struggled significantly during the ordeal.
“My heart was severely injured and stunned. My lungs struggled too,”
Jenny Simpson
Over the following days, her condition improved, allowing medical staff to remove intensive support as her heart and lungs resumed functioning on their own. Simpson wrote: Miraculously, my heart woke back up. My whole body proved remarkably resilient. Within days my heart and lungs were strong enough to work on their own.
Diagnosis of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Medical evaluations after the stabilization of her condition revealed a rare inherited heart condition known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, or ARVC. The genetic condition triggered dangerous heart rhythms that caused her heart to stop.
Photo: Runner's World
ARVC is a condition where proteins holding heart muscle cells together fail to function correctly, causing cells to die and be replaced by fatty and scar tissue. This process thins and stretches the walls of the heart chambers, impairing the organ’s ability to pump blood effectively. Simpson noted that scar tissue within her heart disrupted its electrical system, triggering dangerous heart rhythms that ultimately caused my heart to stop.
Now back home in Colorado, Simpson continues working with her medical team at Duke Hospital to understand what living with ARVC means for her long-term recovery. She characterized her current situation as the best-case scenario, stating that it took her time to find the words and be ready to share the update.
Retirement and Connection to the Running Community
The diagnosis brings a definitive end to Simpson’s running career. Although she officially stepped away from professional racing at the end of the 2024 season after claiming 11 US titles, she had continued participating in community pacing events and works in an executive role for running company Fleet Feet.
Photo: BBC
“My future is an incredible gift. It’s hopeful, and it will continue to have great purpose. But my diagnosis also means it would be dangerous for me to return to running. That chapter has ended. Thankfully, my story hasn’t.”
Jenny Simpson leaves the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest while running in a competition
Jenny Simpson
Simpson’s career includes representing the United States at three Olympic Games in Beijing, London, and Rio de Janeiro, where she won a bronze medal in the 1500m in 2016, becoming the first American woman to medal in the event. She also captured the 1500m world title in 2011 and earned silver medals at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships, experiencing everything from the trenches of training to standing on the top of the podium while the national anthem filled the stadium.
While her running days are over, her connection to the sport remains intact through her work with Fleet Feet. Addressing well-wishers who might be uncertain how to approach her, Simpson made a specific request in her public update.
“Please do not say that you’re sorry or that you feel bad for me. If it is true in your heart, please tell me you’re glad that I’m here. That’s how I feel – so glad that I’m still here.”
