Rachel Apa dies of rhabdomyolysis after New York Marathon
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old American, died after collapsing in Central Park, about three kilometres from the finish of the New York City Marathon. Her father, Steve Apa, told the New York Times that the participant had died of rhabdomyolysis after reporting severe muscle pain.
Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old American, died of rhabdomyolysis after collapsing about three kilometres from the finish of the New York City Marathon, on 1 November in Central Park. Her father, Steve Apa, told the New York Times that she died after being transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital.
The young woman was taking part in her first marathon and had reported several muscle pains to relatives during the race. She stopped near 85th Street, while her mother’s tracking app showed that she was no longer progressing around the 24th mile. A passer-by and then the race’s medical team performed CPR, according to the New York Times.
Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibres, releasing substances into the blood that can damage the kidneys and disrupt the heart rhythm. Very intense physical exertion can cause the condition, which can manifest as severe muscle pain and dark urine.
The 2026 edition of the marathon, held for the 50th anniversary of the route through New York’s five boroughs, brought a record 61,000 runners to the finish. Organisers said Rachel Apa was the first participant to die in the race since 2024. She was raising funds for Parkinson’s disease research and had recently started an MBA at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina.
The death occurred during an edition in which Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui’s women’s victory was reported on 1 November in the New York City Marathon.
