16.10.2026 10:31
In a half marathon held in South Korea, 25-year-old running phenomenon Yoo Ji-won collapsed to the ground just 500 meters before the finish line and lost his life. The death of the young athlete, who was pursuing a master's degree in artificial intelligence and known for his running achievements, caused great sorrow. Yoo's exact cause of death has not yet been announced.
A tragic incident occurred at the 2026 Seoul Race half marathon held in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Yoo Ji-won, a 25-year-old with a large following in the running world, suddenly collapsed at the 20.6-kilometer point of the 21.1-kilometer course. The young athlete lost consciousness only 500 meters before the finish line and died in the hospital where she was taken.
SHE FELL ILL 500 METERS BEFORE THE FINISH LINE
According to the organizing committee's statement, Yoo Ji-won fell ill near Jonggak subway station in central Seoul at 08:49 on Sunday.
Emergency medical teams were notified for the young athlete, who was found motionless by race officials. Yoo, who received CPR before being taken to the hospital, could not be saved despite all interventions.
CAUSE OF DEATH NOT YET KNOWN
The exact cause of Yoo Ji-won's death has not yet been officially announced. Although one of the race officials stated that the young athlete may have pushed herself too hard, this possibility has not been confirmed. The organizing committee announced that the incident will be examined in detail and necessary measures will be taken.
SHE WAS BOTH A SCIENTIST AND A SUCCESSFUL RUNNER
Born in 2001, Yoo Ji-won was pursuing a master's degree at KAIST, one of South Korea's leading educational institutions, on semiconductors used in the field of artificial intelligence.
Yoo, who started running in 2022, achieved remarkable times in a short time. The young athlete, who took part in the New Balance Half Marathon in March and completed it in 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 1 second, had won first place in the 10-kilometer women's amateur category of the Gunsan Saemangeum Marathon held on April 5.
IN THE LABORATORY DURING THE DAY, AT TRAINING IN THE EVENING
In an interview she gave in March, Yoo Ji-won described her daily life. The young athlete, who stated that she went to the laboratory at 09:00 every morning, said that she ran for about two hours starting at 20:00 in the evening. Sharing her running experiences with her followers, Yoo encouraged people to stay healthy and improve themselves.
A STRIKING WARNING FROM AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION
After Yoo's death, Hwang Young-jo, the 1992 Barcelona Olympics marathon champion, also issued an important warning to amateur runners. Hwang stated that runners can push themselves to achieve better times and said, "Knowing when to stop makes you a better runner." The Olympic champion also emphasized that race organizers should be more prepared for emergencies.