Spanish athletics mourns Julieta Gallego after deadly Toledo rail collision

Spanish long jumper Julieta Gallego has died at the age of about 24 after being caught up in the train collision in Toledo province that claimed at least 69 lives.

Gallego was among those killed when two high-speed trains collided near the town of Urda on the route linking Madrid with southern Andalusia. The crash is the second fatal incident on the line in less than a year.

The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) confirmed Gallego’s death in an official statement published on its X account on Thursday. The message, reported by Reuters, expressed the organisation’s “deep sorrow” and its full solidarity with the Spanish athletics community.

“The Spanish athletics family shares its deep sorrow at the death of Julieta Gallego, an athlete from AD Sprint, following the tragic train accident in Urda,” the federation said.

“We offer our full support to her family, friends and club team-mates.”

Gallego represented the Madrid-based AD Sprint and regularly competed in Spanish club championships. Her personal best in the long jump was 5.90 metres, recorded at the Antequera meeting in 2023.

Her death prompted a further tribute from Raul Chapado, president of the Spanish Athletics Federation, who described the tragedy as a devastating loss for the sport.

“There are tragedies that strike at the heart of the athletics family,” Chapado told Spanish newspaper ABC.

“Today, the sporting community mourns the loss of Julieta, who had a promising life ahead of her, cruelly cut short.”