Ethiopian Marathoner Yebrgual Melese Dies in Training

Yebrgual Melese, a 36-year-old Ethiopian marathon runner renowned for her victories in Shanghai, Houston, and Prague, died suddenly during a training session while preparing for the Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon scheduled for May 24, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation announced.

The federation confirmed the death of the athlete, who had collapsed and was rushed to a nearby hospital in the Canadian city where the race was set to take place. Medical professionals attended to her immediately, but she could not be saved. No cause of death has been disclosed.

Melese held a personal best marathon time of 2:19:33 in Dubai, one of the earliest sub-2:20 performances by a woman. She set the course record of 2:20:36 in Shanghai in 2018 and also won the Portugal Half Marathon that year. Her career included second-place finishes at the 2015 Chicago Marathon, as well as in Frankfurt, Dongying, Paris, and the 2025 Barcelona Marathon. She earned a bronze medal in the half marathon at the 2015 African Games in Brazzaville, Congo, and won the Paris Half Marathon twice and the Lisbon Half Marathon.

After rising to prominence in 2015, Melese took a nearly four-year break from 2020 to...