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Spanish long jumper Julieta Gallego among 69 killed in Toledo train crash
Julieta Gallego, a 24-year-old Spanish long jumper, was killed in a train crash near Toledo on Wednesday that claimed at least 69 lives. The collision between two trains injured more than 100 people and marks Spain's worst rail disaster since 2013.
Quick Facts
- Long jumper killed in train crash
- High-speed Renfe train struck stationary Iryo train
- Train derailed after impact
- Spanish athletics federation and club issued condolences
- Julieta Gallego
Related Insights
Julieta Gallego, a 24-year-old long jumper from Madrid-based athletics club AD Sprint, died in a train crash near Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday morning. The collision, which occurred approximately 120 kilometers south of Madrid, involved a Renfe high-speed train striking a stationary Iryo train on the same track. The impact has claimed at least 69 lives and injured more than 100 people, with authorities warning the death toll may still rise.
Gallego, who had recently turned 24 on October 9, was a specialized long jumper with a personal best of 5.90 meters, achieved at the 2023 Spain Under-23 Indoor Championships. She was a regular competitor in Spanish club championships and had also participated in sprint and hurdles events. Though she resided in Germany and competed as an amateur member of LAC Berlin, she was visiting Spain when the accident occurred. She was a former student of the German School of Madrid.
The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEF) and AD Sprint issued statements mourning her death. RFEF president Raúl Chapado said: "There are blows that hurt to the very core of the athletics family. Today, sport mourns the passing of Julieta—a life ahead that has been unjustly extinguished." AD Sprint described her as an integral member of their jumping group and announced a minute of silence in her memory at their training facilities in Madrid on Thursday.
The crash is the second rail disaster in Spain this year and the worst in the country since 2013. Emergency services transported victims' bodies to the main forensics institute in Toledo, where families provided DNA samples for identification. Among the other confirmed victims were former employment minister Fátima Báñez, 59, and Civil Guard officer José Manuel Chacón, 31.
Why This Matters
A passenger rail collision near Toledo killed 69+ people and injured over 100, marking Spain's deadliest rail accident since 2013. The collision involved a Renfe high-speed train striking a stationary Iryo train near Urda, approximately 120 kilometers south of Madrid. Identified victims include a 24-year-old competitive athlete, a former government employment minister, and a Civil Guard officer. Spanish rail operators and safety authorities will conduct incident investigation; families conducted DNA identification at Toledo's forensics institute. This represents the second major rail disaster in Spain in 2024.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2012
WireFátima Báñez introduced controversial labour reforms as employment minister
Jan 1, 2013
WireSpain's previous worst rail disaster
Oct 29, 2026
WireJulieta Gallego's death confirmed; RFEF and AD Sprint issued condolences
Oct 30, 2026
WireAD Sprint planned minute of silence at Madrid training facilities
Sources
- Young athlete and former minister among victims of Spain train crashBBCMediaOct 29, 2026
- Muere Julieta Gallego, promesa del atletismo español, en el accidente ferroviario de UrdaEl MundoMediaOct 29, 2026
- Luto en el atletismo español por la muerte de Julieta Gallego en el accidente de tren de ToledoABCMediaOct 29, 2026
- Spanish athlete confirmed as victim of Wednesday train crashxinhuaMediaOct 29, 2026