Athlete Nayeli Clemente, 24, Dies After Workout in Extreme Heat
The fitness community is mourning a loss.
Nayeli Clemente died on May 2 after participating in a distance-running endurance challenge called “Team Pyramid Run,” the Cholula Games confirmed to Daily Mail May 9. She was 24.
The competition, in which people increasingly run longer distances, happened during the Cholula Games, a fitness competition in San Andrés Cholula, Mexico. Nayeli was taken to the hospital after collapsing in the 96-degree heat.
She passed away a day later, according to event organizers.
“During the main event of the Cholula Games, an athlete developed a medical complication," Cholula Games’ statement to Daily Mail read. "She was treated by the event's medical team and transported alive to a private hospital, where she sadly died the following day.”
Prior to her passing, Nayeli’s brother Kevin Armando Hernández shared insight into her hospitalization, explaining that she had "suffered a sudden stroke."
He also paid tribute to his sister, describing the physical therapist as someone who is "passionate about healing and caring for others; a strong woman, an athlete, and a nature lover."
Nayeli often participated in CrossFit events and was an avid athlete, and had spoken about her health struggles amid her participation in endurance events.
"There were physical and emotional signs I didn't want to see and pushed aside because I wanted to conquer the world in one day," she wrote in a May 2024 Instagram post after participating in a competition. "With all the fear and uncertainty of what could happen to me, I took the risk of doing the next workout in the pyramid."
She added, "I don't consider it the most responsible decision, but it showed me how brave, persevering, and strong I am."
While the event was not sponsored by CrossFit, following her death, the fitness brand mourned the loss of their community member.
"We are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of athlete Nayeli Clemente at a third-party licensed event in Mexico,” a spokesperson for Crossfit told People. “Our hearts go out to Nayeli’s family and friends, and especially her CrossFit teammates and community."
eonline
