The 36-year-old passed away after a routine training session in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Tuesday.
Melese was preparing for the prestigious Ottawa Marathon in Canada, scheduled for May 24, where she was featured on the elite starting list.
According to BBCthe celebrated runner collapsed and was immediately rushed to a nearby medical facility. Despite the rapid response and emergency efforts, she could not be revived.
Ethiopian runner Yebrgual Melese celebrates after finishing first at the Shanghai Marathon on Nov. 18, 2018, in Shanghai, China. Photo by AFP |
Melese was residing in Addis Ababa with her husband and two children. Following the devastating news, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation released an official statement extending its deepest condolences to her family, friends and supporters.
The governing body paid tribute to her lasting legacy, officially remembering Melese as a “heroic athlete” who represented the nation on the international stage.
The exact cause of her death has not been confirmed.
Throughout the 2010s, Melese established herself as one of Ethiopia’s premier marathoners. She earned widespread respect across the sport for her enduring stamina, consistency and achievement in major races around the world.
The year 2015 marked the peak of Melese’s career. Over a grueling 10-month stretch, she secured a remarkable trio of marathon victories in Houston, Prague and Shanghai, along with the second place at the Chicago Marathon, with a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes and 43 seconds. This finish remains her highest placement at any of the World Marathon Majors.
Her triumph at the Houston Marathon was particularly notable when she clocked a winning time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 23 seconds in harsh winter weather and strong winds.
Just months later, she showcased her endurance by utilizing a powerful late acceleration to claim victory at the Prague Marathon. She completed her hat-trick of titles in first place at the Shanghai Marathon by the end of the year.
During her prime, Melese consistently broke the sub-2.25 mark, a highly respected result for women’s marathon racing at the time. She officially cemented her elite status by joining the sub-2:20 club at the 2018 Dubai Marathon, securing a third-place finish and setting a personal best of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 36 seconds.
He last recorded competitive appearance was at the Beijing Marathon in May 2025, a race she unfortunately did not finish. Following that event, she had returned to her high-altitude training base in Ethiopia, preparing for her comeback in the current season before tragedy occurred.
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