Woman in Her 20s Dies 3.6 km Before Finish Line in First Marathon

A woman in her 20s participating in the New York City Marathon collapsed during the race and died.

According to The New York Times on November 3 (local time), Rachel Apaga, who participated in the New York City Marathon held on November 1, suddenly collapsed near Central Park and was transported to a hospital, but ultimately passed away.

The location where she collapsed was about 3.6 kilometers away from the finish line.

The cause of death revealed by the deceased's father is rhabdomyolysis.

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition where damaged muscle releases toxic substances into the body due to intense exercise or other factors, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening by causing complications such as acute kidney injury.

Rachel Apaga was known to have maintained a healthy physical condition, having played as a field hockey player in top-tier collegiate sports leagues during her college years.

This competition was her first attempt at a marathon.

She participated in the race while raising donations for an organization in memory of her grandfather, who passed away from Parkinson's disease.

The New York City Marathon is one of the largest marathon events in the world, with more than 60,000 people participating this year.

In South Korea as well, a woman in her 20s collapsed during the 2026 Seoul Marathon held in Jongno-gu, Seoul on October 11, and passed away the following day.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.