Hwang Young-jo analyzes causes of race fatalities on YouTube channel

'Best to finish with a little energy still left in the tank'

Marathon Olympic gold medalist Hwang Young-jo delivers the opening declaration at the 2026 Chuncheon United Marathon at Elysian Gangchon Resort in Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on Oct. 3, National Foundation Day. [Yonhap]
Marathon Olympic gold medalist Hwang Young-jo delivers the opening declaration at the 2026 Chuncheon United Marathon at Elysian Gangchon Resort in Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on Oct. 3, National Foundation Day. [Yonhap]

Marathon Olympic gold medalist Hwang Young-jo has warned runners not to push themselves too hard, saying "accidents can happen when you get greedy chasing a time," amid a string of deaths at road races — including the death of a woman in her 20s who collapsed during a Seoul marathon while studying at KAIST.

Hwang posted a video titled "Why do deaths happen at marathon races?" to his YouTube channel "Yeongjo-hyeong" on Tuesday.

"A considerable number of people die at marathons across the country," he said. "You hear things like, 'Several people were taken away by ambulance after cardiac arrest.' It happens even more on hot days."

He expressed concern that running, which many people take up to stay healthy and live longer, was becoming something that led to death instead. "Marathon is a sport that challenges the limits of human endurance," he said, "but people run to stay healthy and live longer — and yet it's turning into running that leads to death."

He identified the main causes of race fatalities as runners pushing too hard for times and rankings, and inadequate preparation by race organizers.

"You need to listen to your body and feel whether it and your mind are ready," Hwang said. "I've seen recreational runners enter races when they're not prepared — participating in a race when you're not ready is something you really need to think hard about."

He added that his own heart rate climbed as high as 215 beats per minute during his competitive days. "I could do that because I was a professional athlete," he said. "When an ordinary person enters a race without enough sleep and under ongoing work stress, that's how accidents happen."

"Elite athletes actually withdraw from races quite often," Hwang said. "They're in excellent physical condition, but they quit when various things go wrong mid-race. Knowing when to quit makes you a better runner. People who know when to stop know themselves."

He went on to say, "If your body is struggling, you need to rest. You should approach a race with a light mindset — be willing to drop out, shorten your distance, or treat it as an easy training day. The best state to be in is finishing a run with a little energy still left in the tank."

He also had words for race organizers.

"There should be at least eight to 10 ambulances on standby so emergency treatment can be administered immediately," Hwang said. "Race organizers need to prepare thoroughly when it comes to safety."

He also flagged excessive social media showing-off as a problem, saying runners were posting glamorous race photos online.

"People who have only just started are running full marathons," he said. "These days, even amateurs run them in under two hours and 40 minutes" — adding that chasing times was beside the point.

"A person who runs with good form is a good runner," he added. "A person who runs fast is not necessarily a good runner."

The Seoul Race organizing committee announced Monday on its official website that "an emergency occurred at 8:49 a.m. Sunday when a half-course participant collapsed at the 20.6-kilometer mark." The statement said the runner received on-site emergency treatment before being transported by ambulance to a medical facility, "but sadly passed away."

"We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family facing this sudden grief," the committee added.

The runner who died was identified as Yoo Ji-won, a KAIST graduate student researching AI semiconductors. In an appearance on a YouTube channel last March, she said she went to her lab at 9 a.m. each day to pursue her research and coursework, ran for about two hours starting at 8 p.m., and had begun seriously chasing personal records since the summer of last year.


jshan@heraldcorp.com