Three-time Olympian Jenny Simpson remains hospitalized in Raleigh, North Carolina, after collapsing during a track meet on June 17. Fleet Feet says the 39-year-old is showing encouraging improvement as she continues medical care.
Raleigh, N.C. — For three straight days, the running community has been holding its breath around Jenny Simpson.
Simpson, 39, is still hospitalized in Raleigh after collapsing during a track and field event on Wednesday, June 17. The incident happened while she was pacing a mile group at the Sir Walter Pop Up Miles meet at Williams Stadium at Athens Drive High School.
Fleet Feet, where Simpson serves as Chief Running Officer, posted an update Thursday morning on its Instagram account. The statement said Simpson remains under medical care, but has shown “encouraging improvement” and continues to display the strength and resilience she has long been known for.
That same update included a striking detail about how Simpson is approaching recovery: she has already asked about her mile time and whether she won.
The statement also described the hospital night. Fleet Feet CEO Joey Pointer was at the event and stayed with Simpson overnight until her family arrived.
“The outpouring of support from across the running community has been extraordinary,” Fleet Feet said. “We appreciate the compassion, encouragement and concern shown for Jenny and her family, and we are grateful to be part of a community that continues to rally around them.”
The collapse itself was sudden and serious. Simpson suffered a medical emergency while pacing the mile group on June 17. She was reportedly without a pulse until she received CPR and was treated with an automated external defibrillator (AED) before being taken to a nearby hospital.
Simpson is no stranger to high-stakes moments, even if this one was different from the track. A three-time Olympian, she retired from professional running in 2024. She competed in three Olympics for the U.S. winning the bronze medal in the 1. 500 meters at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games—becoming the first American woman to medal in that event. She also won the 1,500 at the 2011 world championships, and her career included four NCAA individual championships at Colorado.
Simpson began working for Fleet Feet in February. The retailer is headquartered in Carrboro, North Carolina, about 32 miles northwest of Raleigh.
In the moments since her collapse. what stands out isn’t only the medical emergency itself. but the way the story has unfolded in the small details: a hospital update that emphasizes improvement. a CEO staying by her side until family arrived. and Simpson—still recovering—asking about her mile time and whether she won.
Jenny Simpson Raleigh Olympic track star collapse Fleet Feet Joey Pointer CPR AED Sir Walter Pop Up Miles Williams Stadium Athens Drive High School
Wait she asked about her mile time?? That’s insane honestly.
I heard she collapsed because of like dehydration or something, but now they say she’s improving so that’s good. Still scary though like why were they even pacing a mile group if she was at risk?
So she was without a pulse and they had an AED… but the article makes it sound like she’s just taking a little hospital vacation? Like obviously I’m glad she’s improving but how is everyone already talking about her ‘mile time’ already.
This sounds like one of those ‘she’s a fighter’ stories. But also I don’t really buy the part about asking who won, like maybe they mean she asked about her friend or the race or something. Either way I hope she recovers, and shout out to the CEO for staying there overnight, that’s wild.