Spanish athletics is mourning the death of Julieta Gallego Gámez, a 24-year-old long-jump athlete who was among the victims of the serious railway accident in Urda, in the province of Toledo, on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
Her death was confirmed on Thursday by her athletics club, AD Sprint, and the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA), both of which published messages of condolence and support for her family, friends and fellow athletes.
Gallego had celebrated her 24th birthday on 9 October and was living in Germany. She was a member of AD Sprint, a Madrid-based athletics club, where she formed part of its long-jump group.
A Young Athlete with a Promising Sporting Career
Julieta Gallego was an established member of AD Sprint's athletics programme and regularly competed in Spanish club championships.
Her personal best in the long jump was 5.90 metres, reflecting her progress in the discipline and her potential as a competitive athlete.
Her club announced the news of her death in a message expressing its profound sadness, remembering her as part of its sporting family and sending condolences to everyone close to her.
The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation also joined the tributes, expressing its sorrow and offering support to her family, loved ones and club teammates.
Tributes from the Athletics Community
AD Sprint announced that it would hold a minute of silence in her memory on Thursday at two athletics venues: the sports facilities at the schools in Paracuellos at 18:00 and Santa Ana at 19:30.
The tributes reflected the impact of her loss on the athletics community, particularly among the athletes and colleagues who had shared training sessions and competitions with her.
The Railway Accident in Urda
The accident occurred at approximately 08:53 on Wednesday, 28 October, near the railway station in Urda, Toledo, when a Renfe AVE train travelling from Madrid towards Seville collided with an Iryo train on the same line.
The collision caused several carriages to derail and resulted in a major emergency response involving firefighters, medical teams, police officers, the Military Emergency Unit and other rescue personnel.
The incident prompted three days of official mourning across Spain, from 29 to 31 October 2026.
As investigations continue into the circumstances of the collision, Julieta Gallego is being remembered by her club, the national athletics federation and the wider sporting community.