Story perspectives

Olympic Bronze Medalist Collapses, Rescued by CPR at Raleigh Mile

6/18/2026

Summary

Jenny Simpson Rescued

Jenny Simpson collapsed, stopped breathing and had no pulse at a Sir Walter Running pop-up mile event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 16, 2026.
Bystanders performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator.
Paramedics transported the 39-year-old athlete to a local hospital where she received treatment.
Simpson, a retired Olympic bronze-medalist who won the 1500-meter bronze at Rio 2016, retired at the end of 2024.

Summary

Sir Walter Thanks

Sir Walter Running publicly thanked the first-responders and EMS personnel who administered CPR and used an AED during the incident.
The pop-up Miles event in Raleigh also offered runners a chance to earn a spot in the qualifying race for the Sir Walter Miler.
Participants could choose to run either a full mile or an 800-meter distance, broadening the event’s appeal to various skill levels.
Organizers asked the public to keep Jenny Simpson and her family in their prayers while she recovers.
The presence of an automated external defibrillator on site highlighted the event’s emergency-preparedness planning.
The race was organized by Sir Walter Running, a group known for promoting competitive mile-distance events in the U.S.

History

Historical Context

Public AEDs appeared in the late 1970s; a universal AED sign was adopted in September 2008, and after FDA scrutiny in 2012 a 2015 order required pre-market approval following over 750 deaths and 70 recalls between 2004-2009. When runner Jenny Simpson collapsed at Sir Walter Running’s June 16 2026 pop-up mile, bystanders used the on-site AED, showing those safety steps still save lives.

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Jenny Simpson Rescued

Jenny Simpson collapsed, stopped breathing and had no pulse at a Sir Walter Running pop-up mile event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 16, 2026.
Bystanders performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator.
Paramedics transported the 39-year-old athlete to a local hospital where she received treatment.
Simpson, a retired Olympic bronze-medalist who won the 1500-meter bronze at Rio 2016, retired at the end of 2024.

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