Olympic bronze medalist and world champion runner Jenny Simpson suffered a medical episode and collapsed while pacing a mile group at a community event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Tuesday night.
The 39-year-old 1,500-meter specialist received CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) was used at the track before she was transported to a hospital.
The incident was first reported by LetsRun. Simpson was participating in a Sir Walter Running event, which encourages runners of all levels to attend and offered a chance to meet the decorated athlete.
The “Sir Walter Running Team” issued a statement on Instagram Wednesday, expressing gratitude for the swift response.
“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.”
Simpson earned a bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games as she finished behind Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba.
She also claimed the 1,500-meter world championship title in 2011, alongside silver medals in the same event in 2013 and 2017.
