Sweden's Long-distance Runner, Emilia Brangefalt, Chooses Suicide Instead Of Not Being Able To Practice Again

Swedish long-distance runner Emilia Brangefalt (photo: Instagram @emiliabrangefalt)

JAKARTA - Sweden's long-distance runner, Emilia Brangefalt, who won a bronze medal in a 40km race at the World Trail Championship atung Mai last year, has died at the age of 21. The news came days after he expressed his despair for being forced to stop training.

Brangefalt, who also won fifth place in the world championship competition at Innsbruck earlier this year, was diagnosed with a'very high heart rate' shortly after his brilliant feat. He was forced to stop practicing. On November 4, in a post on Instagram, Brangefalt revealed his physical and mental struggles since he had to quit his beloved sport.

"Just walking now hurts", Brangefalt wrote. "I've been to the hospital and undergone medical examinations more than 20 times, but every blood test / bicycle test is fine. However, my body is very stressed even though I've given so much love over the last few months."

"Maybe too much for a 21-year-old girl to run Transvulcania 48k and WMTRC 45k in less than a month. I'm so sad that running and training means a lot to me. But now, living a normal life is difficult. I spend more time in bed than standing this month. Maybe one day I will come back. Or not. I hope my body can recover from this," he said.

Nine days after the post, on November 13, Brangefalt ended his life, as stated in a statement from the Swedish Athletics Federation (SAF) on Wednesday, November 22.

"During his last months, Emilia felt very bad, both physically and mentally. He had the support of both those closest to him, but on November 13, he ended his life," said SAF.

"I don't know Emilia personally, but I understand that she is a very good person, an advanced thinker, a girl who is full of talent with her entire life in front of her," said SAF Captain Kasja Bergvist as quoted by VOI from mirror.co.uk.

Brangefalt's brother, Adam, paid tribute to his younger brother on Instagram, and said he had tried to gain psychiatric support the day before his death but was unable to access aid due to staff shortages.