Spanish long jumper Julieta Gallego among victims of deadly train collision

What the report says

Spanish long jumper Julieta Gallego was identified among those killed in a deadly train collision in Spain’s Toledo province, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation. Gallego, 24, competed for Madrid-based AD Sprint and was a regular in Spain’s club athletics competitions. The federation said it was mourning her death and extended condolences to her family, friends and teammates.

The crash happened on Wednesday in Urda, Toledo, when two high-speed trains collided on the line linking Madrid with southern Andalusia. Officials said the accident killed at least 68 people and injured about 80 more, including many with severe or critical wounds. Regional authorities said the most seriously hurt were taken to hospitals in the area and in Madrid, while others were initially assessed near the crash site.

Gallego’s best recorded long jump mark was 5.90 metres, set in 2023 in Antequera, the report said. Her death has drawn attention in Spain’s sports community, where federation leaders described the loss as especially painful for athletics. More broadly, the collision is significant because it was the second deadly accident in less than a year on the same rail corridor, renewing concern about safety on one of Spain’s major intercity routes.