Spanish Athletics Mourns Young Long Jumper Julieta Gallego Among 68 Victims of Deadly Train Collision

A tragic collision involving two high-speed trains on Wednesday has claimed the lives of at least 68 people in Spain’s Toledo province. Among the victims was 24-year-old long jumper Julieta Gallego, a member of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation.

The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) released a statement on Thursday expressing deep sorrow over Gallego's death. "The Spanish athletics family joins in the grief over the passing of Julieta Gallego, athlete of AD Sprint, in the train accident that occurred in Urda (Toledo)," the RFEA stated on X, extending support to her family, friends, and club teammates.

Gallego, who competed for the Madrid-based club AD Sprint, was a consistent participant in Spain’s club championships. Her personal best in the long jump was 5.90 meters (19.4 feet), achieved in Antequera in 2023.

RFEA president Raul Chapado described the incident as a devastating blow to the athletics community. "There are blows that strike at the very heart of the athletics family. Today, the sport mourns the passing of Julieta, a life ahead of her that has been unjustly extinguished," Chapado told the Spanish newspaper ABC.

This incident marks the second fatal accident in less than a year on the rail line connecting Madrid to southern Andalusia. In addition to the 68 fatalities, approximately 80 individuals were injured, with 50 sustaining serious injuries and 15 in critical condition, according to Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government.

The most severely injured passengers were transported to hospitals in the Castilla-La Mancha region and the capital, Madrid. Other survivors received medical attention at a sports hall near the crash site, where emergency personnel triaged them based on injury severity before directing them to their homes or hospitals.

Local media reports indicated that survivors treated at the scene presented with head wounds, facial swelling, and bloodied clothing, many appearing dazed by the traumatic event.