Tragic passing of Emilia Brangefalt, a 21-year-old Swedish trail runner

Publish date: 2024-05-09

Tragedy struck the running community as Emilia Brangefalt, a Swedish trail runner, took her own life at the age of 21.

Brangefalt, an accomplished long-distance athlete, had achieved remarkable success in the Trail World Championships 40km race in Chiang Mai in 2022, securing a bronze medal. Additionally, this year, she attained a fifth-place finish in a world championship race in Innsbruck. However, her promising career was abruptly interrupted when she was diagnosed with an extremely high heart rate, forcing her to take a hiatus from the sport.

In a poignant Instagram post on November 4, Brangefalt candidly shared her struggles, detailing the physical and mental torment she endured during her enforced break from running. She expressed, “Just taking a walk is painful right now,” and lamented the relentless cycle of hospital visits and tests that yielded no conclusive findings. Her post hinted at the toll her athletic endeavors may have taken on her health, stating, “Maybe it was too much for a 21-year-old girl to run Transvulcania 48k and WMTRC 45k with less than one month in between.”

“I am super sad because running and training means so much,” Brangefalt confessed. “But now, just living a normal life is difficult. I have spent more hours in bed than on my feet this past month. Maybe one day I will be back. Or I won’t. I hope my body can recover from this.”

Tragically, the Swedish Athletics Federation confirmed that Emilia Brangefalt had taken her own life earlier in the month. A statement from the federation revealed the extent of her suffering in her final months and conveyed the deep sense of loss felt by those who knew her best.

Kasja Bergqvist, the captain of the SAF, expressed the profound tragedy of Brangefalt’s death, describing her as a kind, forward-thinking, and talented individual with a bright future ahead. The running association Vasteras FK also mourned her passing, underscoring the profound impact of her untimely death on the wider running community.


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