Jenny Simpson Says Cardiac Diagnosis Ends Her Running Chapter

American Olympic medallist Jenny Simpson says she will not return to running after a cardiac arrest led to the diagnosis of a rare inherited heart condition. BBC Sport reported that the 39-year-old former 1500m world champion disclosed the diagnosis and its consequences in an Instagram post.

Simpson was pacing a mile group at a pop-up event in North Carolina in June when she collapsed. She received CPR and treatment with an automated external defibrillator before being taken to UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh. According to the BBC report, she went into cardiac arrest again at the hospital.

Simpson said her heart had been severely injured and that her lungs also struggled. Doctors diagnosed her with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, known as ARVC. She said the diagnosis makes a return to running dangerous, ending that part of her life even as she remains hopeful and sees purpose in her future.

BBC Sport described ARVC as a genetic condition affecting proteins that normally hold heart muscle cells together. The condition can cause those cells to die and be replaced by fatty and scar tissue. The walls of the heart chambers can then become thin and stretched, limiting the heart's ability to pump blood properly.

The announcement follows Simpson's retirement from competitive racing at the end of the 2024 season. Her latest statement goes further by ruling out running itself on medical grounds. Simpson expressed gratitude for having been able to experience the full range of an elite career, from demanding training to major championship success.

Simpson represented the United States at three consecutive Olympic Games beginning in 2008. She won the world 1500m title in 2011 and earned Olympic bronze in the event at Rio 2016. Her championship record also includes silver medals in the 1500m at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships, giving her four global outdoor medals across those competitions.