The sporting community in Spain is mourning the tragic death of 24-year-old long jumper Julieta Gallego, who was among the at least 68 victims of a devastating train collision in the province of Toledo. The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) confirmed the news on Thursday, expressing deep condolences to her family, friends, and teammates at her club, Madrid-based AD Sprint.
Gallego, a regular fixture in national club championships, achieved a personal best jump of 5.90 metres in Antequera in 2023. RFEA president Raul Chapado expressed the federation’s sorrow, telling the newspaper ABC that the sport had lost a young life with a promising future in an event that struck the very heart of the athletics community. Set in Antequera in 2023, her long jump personal best was 5.90 metres (19.4 feet).
The catastrophe occurred on Wednesday when two high-speed trains collided, marking the second fatal incident in under a year on the line connecting Madrid to southern Andalusia. Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, reported that approximately 80 people were injured in the crash. Of those, 50 individuals sustained serious injuries, while 15 remain in critical condition.
Emergency response teams established a triage area at a nearby sports hall, where victims were assessed based on the severity of their trauma before being transported to hospitals across the region and in Madrid. Local media reports described the chaotic scene, noting that survivors treated near the site were suffering from head wounds, facial trauma, and shock, with many found in a dazed state amidst the wreckage.
