RFEA mourns 24-year-old Julieta Gallego lost in Spain rail crash

The collision of two high-speed trains in Toledo province has claimed the life of 24-year-old long jumper Julieta Gallego, adding a personal loss to a regional tragedy that has killed at least 68 people. The crash occurred on Wednesday in the town of Urda, marking the second fatal incident on the Madrid to southern Andalusia rail line in under a year.

Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, confirmed the death toll and reported that approximately 80 people sustained injuries. Of those injured, 50 suffered serious harm and 15 remain in critical condition. Medical teams transported the most severe cases to hospitals in the region and Madrid, while others were evaluated at a nearby sports hall.

Gallego competed for the Madrid-based club AD Sprint and was a frequent participant in Spain’s club championships. Her personal best distance in the long jump stood at 5.90 metres, a record she set in Antequera in 2023. Local media described survivors treated near the crash site as dazed, with visible head wounds, facial swelling, and bloodied clothing.

The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) issued a statement on Thursday expressing condolences to Gallego’s family, friends, and teammates. RFEA president Raul Chapado spoke to the newspaper ABC, describing the event as a blow to the heart of the athletics community. He noted that Gallego’s life was unjustly extinguished before it had fully begun. The federation offered its support to the athlete’s close circle during this period of mourning.

The incident has drawn attention to safety concerns on the high-speed rail network. Emergency services worked to sort injured passengers by severity before directing them to appropriate medical facilities. The death of a young national competitor has intensified the grief felt by the Spanish sporting community.