Ethiopian marathoner Yebrgual Melese, the runner-up in the 2015 Chicago Marathon women’s race, has passed away at age 36 after collapsing during a training session.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation confirmed on Tuesday that Melese suddenly showed abnormal symptoms while training and was rushed to a hospital in the capital Addis Ababa, where she later died.
Born in 1990, Melese won the Houston Marathon and Prague Marathon in 2015 before posting a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 43 seconds to finish second at the Chicago Marathon, a major event, later that year.
She was scheduled to compete in an upcoming race in Ottawa, Canada, later this month.
Ethiopian marathoner Yebrgual Melese, who died after collapsing during training. Photo: AFP