20 injuries, some serious, at the “Transylvania 100” ultramarathon » Horrifying images from the route

Ashley Davis24/05/2026

0 260 3 minutes read

The 11th edition of the “Transylvania 100” marathon, which started on Saturday, May 23, resulted in injuries, some even serious, for 13 participants. Although the Department of Emergency Situations warned about the danger caused by the weather conditions on the competition, the organizers decided to start on the set date.

UPDATE 23:50 » Horrifying images from the race

A clip posted by Ciprian Lolu, one of the most experienced mountain rescuers in Romania, shows the terrible conditions in the higher areas of the route.

Slippery snow and an extremely strong wind, a combination that made it almost impossible to maintain the ideal route.

Your Website Title

UPDATE 22:00 » Sportswoman from Poland, emergency operation

The Brașov County Hospital is where those with more serious cases were brought.

Polish athlete Martyna Matkowska came with multiple spinal fractures and chest and abdominal bleeding. She underwent emergency surgery and is still under the supervision of doctors. The condition remains serious.

UPDATE at 17:30 » Maximum alert: a hard night is ahead

Crews of mountain rescuers and volunteers from all over the region are on high alert, on the trails, according to the information collected by the GSP reporter on the scene.

About 2300 athletes participated. So far they have finished about 1000 of them. The others, from the longer competitions, will run all night.

The injured Polish athlete was pulled from the precipice. She fell in the area of the intermediate point at the Șigănești Refuge, at 2100 meters altitude. It was brought to the Zăganu slope, 1000 meters away. It was only there that she could be picked up by the helicopter and transported to the hospital. Due to atmospheric conditions above, the rescuers were unable to climb and take off at 2000 meters. The woman suffered multiple traumas, a hip and arm fracture.

In total, there are almost 20 injured athletes. At the base, the atmosphere is relaxed, those who have successfully completed the races recount their adventures and recharge.

“Transylvania 100” organizers ignored DSU warnings, 13 athletes suffered injuries

About 2,300 athletes have registered in the competition which is divided into several routes: 100, 80, 50, 30 and 20 kilometers. Both the departure and the return of the routes take place at Bran Castle.

About 2,300 athletes registered for the 11th edition of the “Transylvania 100”, and the start of the competition took place as scheduled on May 23, despite warnings received by the organizers from the DSU.

In the context of the difficult competition conditions, 13 athletes have suffered multiple injuries up to this point

The most serious injury was suffered by a Polish runner, who fell into a ravine of about 300 meters. The incident occurred after the athlete slipped on a section covered with ice, in the area of Cabana Mălăiești – the Șigănești refuge, in the Bucegi Mountains.

Rescuers found her hypothermic and with multiple fractures, and 7 other participants are also in this situation.

Due to difficult weather conditions and low visibility, the SMURD helicopter cannot intervene.

However, the competition has continued for the time being on the long distances of 80 and 100 kilometers, and it looks like the athletes will run through the night as well, with the deadline for the competition being Sunday, May 24, at 4:00 p.m.

DSU release after the incidents of Transylvania 100

Complex intervention in the Bucegi Mountains, during the “Transylvania 100” competition. During today's day, the authorities were alerted to an incident in the area of Cabanei Mălăiesti – the Țigănești refuge, in the Bucegi Mountains, where several participants in the “Transylvania 100” competition slipped on portions covered with ice and fell in areas with rough terrain.

According to the first information, the intervention teams managed to recover from the route five people, all conscious and cooperative, showing mild symptoms of hypothermia. They were transported to the Mălăiesti Hut for evaluation and monitoring.

Also, near the Șigăneşti refuge, in a ravine, the rescuers identified three other people: – a conscious person, with multiple traumas, for whom the recovery operation is being carried out; – a person in hypothermia; – a conscious person, with a pelvic fracture, craniocerebral trauma and a fracture of the right upper limb.

Due to adverse weather conditions and low visibility in the area of approximately 100-150 meters, the requested SMURD helicopter is unable to provide aerial intervention at this time.

However, the aircraft is ready to carry out the mission, when the weather conditions will allow its intervention. The rescue mission is dynamic, with Salvamont Brașov and Gendarmerie Brașov teams present at the scene.

– The DSU announcement

Prices for registration in each route: