Yebrgual Melese, Ethiopian marathon athlete, died at the age of 36 during a training session.

Yebrgual Melese, an Ethiopian marathon athlete known internationally, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 36 during a regular training session. The athlete, who was in the Top 8 worldwide and the winner of the Shanghai Marathon in 2018, collapsed during the training session and, although she was rushed to the hospital, the doctors were unable to save her.

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation expressed condolences and emphasized the profound impact of her passing on the athletic community. Melese had a remarkable career, with victories at marathons in Shanghai, Prague, Houston, and Seoul, and a second place at the Chicago Marathon in 2015. Her personal best marathon time was 2:19:36, set in 2018 in Dubai. At the time, she was preparing for the Ottawa Marathon, where she was considered one of the favorites.