Top Ethiopian runner passes away in hospital, aged 30

Reigning marathon champion, Shewarge Alene, has tragically passed away, according to the organisers of the Stockholm marathon, as reported by the BBC on the 25th September.

Alene was widely regarded as a top-class runner who competed in marathons globally as a professional, achieving 12 victories across 27 marathons between 2011 and 2025. Her best time for a Marathon was recorded as 2:27:26 in Cape Town, South Africa’s 2023 marathon.

She was reported to have won her most recent race in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, earlier this year in May.

Following her most recent win, Alene returned to Ethiopia, where she was reported to have suddenly become unwell. The Stockholm marathon sadly revealed: “It is with deep sorrow that we have received news of the passing of Shewarge Alene, winner of adidas Stockholm Marathon 2025 […] Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.”

The symptoms came on during a training session, and Alene was promptly taken to the hospital, where her life could not be saved.

Alene’s cause of death has not been publicly confirmed, nor has there been any in-depth medical information about her exact condition.

Her sudden death has been met with an amalgamation of grief and shock from the global athletics community.

The Ethiopian runner’s achievements can be marked alongside Athletes from African countries such as Burkina Faso and Morocco whose contributions to the rising representation of African athletes in sport on the global stage cannot be understated. As someone who displayed promising potential to claim more marathon wins under her belt, Alene’s passing can only be described as a senseless tragedy of unfortunate circumstance.

Further statements from family, athletics bodies and medical professionals are expected to come in the future. For now, her death marks an unfortunate moment for both Ethiopia and the wider global athletics community.

BBC News, Maghrebi.org