Tragedy has struck the international distance running community after the death of popular South Korean athlete and running influencer Yoo Ji-won during the Seoul Race half marathon on Sunday.
asserted
Tragedy → strike → Sunday
The 25-year-old runner and social media star collapsed less than a half-mile from the finish line before she was rushed to a local medical facility where she later passed away.
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she → collapse → facility
A race official found Yoo unconscious on a street near the finish line of the 13-mile race and contacted emergency services.
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Yoo → find → services
She was given CPR and rushed to hospital, however she never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead soon after.
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she → give → consciousness
Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of her sudden death and the official medical details remain completely unknown at this stage.
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details → determine → stage
The Seoul Race organizing committee issued a formal statement on Monday to confirm the tragedy and express their deep condolences to her family and the wider running public.
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committee → issue → family
“We pray for the repose of the deceased and extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family facing this sudden sorrow,” the committee stated.
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committee → pray → sorrow
“We would also like to offer our condolences to the participants, whose hearts must be heavy upon hearing the tragic news of the deceased.
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hearts → like → deceased
“The organizing committee will closely examine the relevant matters and take necessary follow up measures.”
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committee → examine → measures
Fellow runner and friend Bummy detailed the harrowing final moments of the race where he completed his run and noticed a large crowd forming near the finish area.
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crowd → detail → area
Assuming a minor injury had occurred on the course he proceeded to the presentation podium to look for his friend before hearing the unsettling news that she had been taken away.
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she → assume → news
“Near the finish line of the Seoul Race, I saw a crowd gathering and thought someone must have been hurt,” he wrote.
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he → see → Race
“As soon as I crossed the finish line, I looked for you on the awards podium, but then came the unsettling news, and I began to sense a reality I didn’t want to believe.
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I → cross → reality
I dropped everything and rushed to the hospital, hoping to see you one last time, but I am so sorry I couldn’t stay by your side until the very end.
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I → drop → end
Yoo was a rising figure in the global amateur running scene who built a loyal audience of more than 9,000 followers on Instagram by documenting her training programs and athletic milestones.
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who → rise → programs
That Instagram page is now filled with devastated comments from fans who are struggling to comprehend the tragedy.
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who → fill → tragedy
Her regular updates inspired many young athletes across Asia — but away from the track she also pursued a demanding professional career as an artificial intelligence semiconductor researcher at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
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she → inspire → Science
Yoo shared her final social media update on October 4 to reveal her finishing time for a recent six mile run.
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Yoo → share → run
Supporters flooded the post with tributes following the news of her sudden death.
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Supporters → flood → death
“I hope you run your heart out in the sky,” one wrote.
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one → hope → sky
“May her soul rest in peace I hope you shine bright up there too,” wrote another.
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another → rest → peace
I’m sorry for you,” a third wrote.
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third → ’m → you
“Every time I saw her running in a video, I thought she was an amazing runner,” another added.
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another → see → video
“I will remember her for a long time to come.”
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I → remember → time
“I always cheered for you, but today I have to wish you rest in peace,” another posted.
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another → cheer → peace
Yoo was an accomplished athlete who had completed the full Seoul Marathon earlier in the year with an impressive time of 2 hours, 56 minutes, and 32 seconds.
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who → complete → hours
The Aporia
