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 retire from running. In a recent Instagram update, the 39-year-old disclosed that she had been diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), which resulted in dangerous heart rhythms causing her heart to stop. Due to this diagnosis, she acknowledged the risk of resuming her running career, stating that this chapter has come to a close but expressing gratitude that her life continues.
Simpson collapsed while leading a group of runners at an event in Raleigh, North Carolina, and received immediate CPR and defibrillation before being taken to the hospital. Reflecting on the incident, she emphasized the importance of expressing joy for her survival rather than sympathy. Throughout the 2007-2017 period, Simpson dominated as America’s top female 1,500-meter runner, securing world championship titles in 2011, Olympic bronze in Rio 2016, and multiple podium finishes.
