The athletics world is mourning the sudden death of Ethiopian marathoner Yebrgual Melese, who passed away at the age of 36 after reportedly falling ill during a routine training session ahead of the Tamarack Ottawa Marathon race scheduled for May 24.
The celebrated distance runner, renowned for her victories at the Houston, Shanghai, and Prague marathons, was widely regarded as one of Africa’s finest long-distance talents. Her untimely death, confirmed by the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, has sent shockwaves across the global athletics community due to both her relatively young age and the unexpected circumstances surrounding her passing.
“The Ethiopian Athletics Federation expresses its sorrow at the sudden death of this heroic athlete and offers its condolences to her family, friends, fans, and the entire sporting community,” wrote the governing body of Ethiopian athletics upon hearing the news.
Melese’s personal best for the marathon is 2:19:33 — achieved in Dubai, which made her one of the few women at the time to break the iconic 2:20 barrier. She rose to prominence as one of Ethiopia’s leading prospects after finishing second in the 2015 Chicago Marathon, a race that is among the six Abbott World Marathon Majors.
In the same year, she represented her country in several competitions, winning a bronze medal in the half marathon at the 2015 African Games in Brazzaville, Congo.
She has also won the Paris Half Marathon twice, as well as the Lisbon Half Marathon, a distance she mastered brilliantly. Melese was widely respected within the athletics community for her consistency and tactical patience in races and she knew exactly when to make her move to secure the victories that earned her admiration.
