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A 15-year-old girl died after collapsing near the finish line of the Leiden Marathon in the Netherlands, prompting debates over age restrictions and verification in amateur long-distance races.
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The finish line of the 2026 Leiden Marathon in the Netherlands. Photo by Leiden Marathon |
The teenager collapsed around noon on May 10, nearly two hours into the 21.1 km race and roughly 4 km from the finish line, where there was a band performing to cheer the runners on.
Medical staff administered emergency first aid in a privacy tent and dispatched an air ambulance. However, the girl did not survive.
The official cause of the medical emergency has not been released. Weather conditions on race day were favorable, with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius and light winds, Canadian Running Magazine reported.
Age limit controversy
Leiden Marathon regulations require half-marathon participants to be at least 16 years old, aligning with the Dutch Athletics Federation's advisory that 15-year-old runners should not compete in distances exceeding 10 km.
The incident raises questions about how a 15-year-old athlete could register for the event.
Tjeerd Scheffer, director of the Leiden Marathon, expressed deep condolences to the girl's family and explained that the current registration system relies entirely on self-reported ages, which allowed the underage runner to secure a bib, Marathon Handbook reported.
The running community also debated whether teenagers should participate in long-distance races, as well as the responsibility of organizers in verifying information instead of relying solely on personal declarations.
Around 20,000 people registered for the Leiden Marathon this year.
Following the incident, organizers canceled the scheduled 10 km and children's races. Athletes already on the marathon and half-marathon courses were permitted to finish.
Leiden Marathon faced safety scrutiny two years ago when 25 athletes were hospitalized for heat exhaustion. A separate Dutch road race in Leeuwarden also recorded a death last year.
Dutch authorities are currently investigating the teenager's death. Her identity has been withheld out of respect for her family's privacy.
