Jenny Simpson Retires from Running After Cardiac Arrest, Diagnosed with ARVC

World champion runner Jenny Simpson has announced her retirement from professional athletics following a cardiac arrest incident in June. The 39-year-old revealed on Instagram that she has been diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a rare heart condition that caused dangerous heart rhythms and led to her heart stopping.

Simpson experienced the cardiac arrest while pacing a group of young runners in Raleigh, North Carolina. The diagnosis of ARVC, a condition affecting the right ventricle of the heart and potentially leading to life-threatening arrhythmias, necessitates the end of her competitive running career. She confirmed that she will not be returning to racing due to the severity of her condition.