Young Athlete Dies During Porto Alegre Half-Marathon

Tragedy Strikes Porto Alegre Marathon: 20-Year-Old Runner Dies Near Finish Line A young man, João de Lamari, 20, tragically died during the Porto Alegre International Marathon on Saturday, June 7th, 2025. The incident occurred just 800 meters from the finish line of the half-marathon, a 21km race that attracted 17,000 participants. Emergency services responded immediately, attempting to resuscitate the runner, but were unsuccessful. The official cause of death was determined to be cardiorespiratory arrest. "He was an amateur athlete, but he trained quite a bit," said Rayan Chinellato, an SBT News reporter at the scene. The video shows footage of João's training runs, as recorded on his Strava app, which indicated a recent 12km run. A cardiologist interviewed for the report emphasized the importance of pre-race medical evaluations, particularly for long-distance races. "Studies indicate that cases like this, collapses during a race, are mostly caused by cardiac problems," stated Dr. Anderson Donelli, a cardiologist. The marathon organizers confirmed the cause of death as a cardiac arrest. This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of health checks before participating in strenuous activities. The SBT News report offers a poignant look at the life of a young athlete and the risks involved in endurance sports.