World champion runner Jenny Simpson has shared that a rare heart condition led to her experiencing cardiac arrest during a race in June, and as a result, she has decided not to resume running.
In a recent Instagram post, the 39-year-old Simpson disclosed that she has been diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a condition that resulted in “dangerous heart rhythms leading to my heart stopping.”
Given this diagnosis, Simpson emphasized the risk associated with returning to running, stating that it would be unsafe for her to continue in the sport.
“I am closing that chapter,” she stated, “but fortunately, my journey continues.”
The incident occurred while Simpson was pacing a group of young runners in a mile race in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she suddenly collapsed. Immediate CPR was administered at the track, followed by the use of an automated external defibrillator before she was swiftly transported to the hospital for further treatment.
In reflecting on the experience, Simpson expressed her gratitude for being alive, urging others not to offer sympathy but rather to acknowledge the joy of her survival. She emphasized, “Please tell me you’re glad that I’m here. That’s how I feel — so glad that I’m still here.”
Notably, from 2007 to 2017, Simpson dominated as the most successful American women’s 1,500-meter runner, achieving victories at world championships in 2011, securing two second-place finishes, and claiming an Olympic bronze medal in Rio in 2016.