The 2026 New York City Marathon concluded with tragedy when 24-year-old athlete Rachel Apa suddenly collapsed in Central Park, just under two miles from the finish line. The death of the former college field hockey player was “unfathomable,” her parents said, noting she had been training for months for the marathon and was in “perfect shape.”
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Rachel ran the 26.2-mile New York City Marathon as a member of the Parkinson’s Champions team in honor of her beloved grandfather, who passed away from the disease in 2022.
Cause of death of Rachel Apa revealed: What is rhabdomyolysis?
The young runner eventually collapsed in Central Park, about two miles short of the finish line of her first marathon. Despite emergency efforts and being rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, she could not be saved. She was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m. EST.
Rachel’s father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times that his daughter died of rhabdomyolysis, a condition where damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases its components into the bloodstream. The condition can occur when muscles are extensively damaged and begin to break down, releasing substances into the bloodstream that can cause potentially life-threatening effects.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 26,000 people in the United States develop rhabdomyolysis every year. Steve told the outlet that his daughter had been healthy and physically fit before the race.
Rachel’s father shares details of their final text exchange before the tragedy
Some of the most heartbreaking details of Rachel’s final hours emerged through the messages she exchanged with her father during the marathon. Both parents were following their daughter’s first-ever marathon in their own way. Her mother, Michelle Apa, traveled to New York to cheer her on, while her father followed her progress through the marathon tracking app from their home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania.
A video recorded by Michelle showed Rachel smiling as she reached the 14th mile. But the messages she sent to her father during the race’s latter stages indicated she was in discomfort.
When she was on mile 18, Rachel sent Steve a short text that read, “Ow.” A mile later, she sent another message that read, “Ow, Ow.” Her father continued to encourage her as she approached the final stretch. When the tracking app showed that Rachel had reached mile 23, he sent her a message saying, “Final stretch.” This time, he received no response.
The 24-year-old, who was wearing light green during the race, collapsed in Central Park approximately two miles from the finish line. Spectator Michaela Nicholas, a hospital social worker, rushed to help alongside her fiance. CPR was administered at the scene as people attempted to save the young runner. Medical professionals and marathon staff also joined the emergency response.
Despite their efforts, Rachel remained critically ill. Her mother, who had been tracking her daughter’s movements, got worried when she noticed that the tracking app had shown no movement for some time. She rushed toward Central Park and reached the scene as Rachel was being taken to the hospital. The 24-year-old was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where doctors continued trying to save her life. However, she was pronounced dead hours later.
Rachel was a former field hockey player at Pennsylvania’s Bucknell University. She was part of the Parkinson’s Champions team and had been raising money in connection with the cause. In a fundraising message, Rachel described her late grandfather’s influence on her life before the disease took him away. She wrote:
“My grandfather was my role model growing up. He taught me to stay active, push limits, and embrace challenges, shaping my love for sports and movement.”
Rachel Apa’s death was the first reported death of a participant at the New York City Marathon since 2024.
Image courtesy: Facebook
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