Former world champion runner Jenny Simpson recently shared that a rare heart condition led to her experiencing cardiac arrest during a race in June, resulting in her decision to retire from competitive running.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the 39-year-old Simpson disclosed that she had been diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a condition that caused dangerous irregular heart rhythms leading to her heart stopping.
Due to the diagnosis, Simpson emphasized the risk associated with her returning to running.
“That chapter of my life has closed,” she stated. “Fortunately, my journey continues.”
Simpson collapsed while guiding a group of young runners in a mile race in Raleigh, North Carolina. She received immediate CPR and was also treated with an automated external defibrillator before being swiftly taken to the hospital by medical personnel.
Reflecting on the incident, Simpson expressed her preference for positive sentiments, stating, “Instead of offering sympathy, please share your joy that I am still here. That’s exactly how I feel—grateful for being alive.”
From 2007 to 2017, Simpson dominated as America’s top women’s 1,500-meter runner, achieving multiple accolades including world championship victories in 2011, two runner-up finishes, and a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
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