Ethiopian long-distance runner Shewarge Alene, the recent winner of the 2025 adidas Stockholm Marathon, has tragically passed away at the age of 30. Her death comes just four months after her major victory in Sweden.
The news was confirmed by the Stockholm Marathon organizers on Instagram, stating that Alene felt unwell during a training session and was rushed to the hospital, where her life could not be saved.
“It is with deep sadness that we received the news of the passing of Shewarge Alene, winner of the adidas Stockholm Marathon 2025,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.”
A Decorated Career Cut Short
Shewarge Alene was a formidable presence in the marathon world, known for her determination and consistent performance. Throughout her professional career, she had secured 12 victories in the 27 marathons she entered globally.
Her death comes at a time when she was hitting peak form. She recorded her all-time best time of 2:29.34 at the Tata Mumbai Marathon in January 2025, followed by her impressive victory in Stockholm with a time of 2:30.38 at the end of May.
Teammates and coaches expressed profound grief, with one coach describing her as “a determined athlete” and “generous friend” who was a great encouragement to others. Press in her homeland quoted a coach emphasizing that the running community had “not only lost a great athlete, but also a role model for young girls in the country.”
Alene had pursued her professional career across continents, living at various times in New York and Mexico, but was recently back training in her home country of Ethiopia.
Source: MSN
