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Tragedy at Medellín Marathon: Young Runner Dies After Medical Emergency During Race

From El Tiempo · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A 20-year-old runner named Juliana died after suffering a cardiac arrest during the 21-kilometer race at the Medellín Marathon 2026.
  • Event paramedics and emergency teams treated her at the scene and transferred her to a hospital, where she later died despite resuscitation efforts.
  • Marathon organizers expressed condolences to her family and friends and asked for respect and solidarity for them.

The Medellín athletic community is mourning the death of Juliana, a 20-year-old runner who suffered a cardiac arrest during the 21K event at the Medellín Marathon 2026.

The incident occurred on Sunday, Sept. 6, as thousands of amateur and professional runners moved through the main roads of the city. Juliana became ill during the half-marathon route, according to the report.

Mayor Federico Gutiérrez said the young athlete suffered a cardiac arrest. The event’s paramedics and volunteer emergency teams activated their response protocols, treated her at the scene and transferred her to a city hospital.

Medical staff and rescue teams tried to revive and stabilize her, but her death was confirmed the following day. The news caused deep shock among athletes and people attending the event.

The Medellín Marathon organization issued a statement expressing its condolences to Juliana’s relatives, friends and loved ones. Organizers said they would provide comprehensive support during the difficult moment and asked others to respect and stand in solidarity with her family.

My prayers are with 20-year-old Juliana, who suffered a cardiac arrest, and with 39-year-old Mario Alberto, who suffered seizures because of a history of epilepsy during the Medellín Marathon. They were taken to medical centers and are receiving urgent care.

· Federico GutiérrezThe mayor reported the medical emergencies during the race.
About this summary

Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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