Sun Yuanjuan completed the Berlin Marathon in 4 hours, 53 minutes, and 46 seconds, setting a personal best and posing proudly with her medal, Expressen reported. But that time, recorded at the finish line, was the result of cheating. Race photographs soon emerged showing the 30-year-old running influencer riding on the pakethållare—the rear luggage carrier—of a bicycle during the race.
The Bicycle Lift and Split Times That Exposed the Plot
Photographs published by official race timing observers caught Yuanjuan resting on a bicycle’s rear rack instead of running. Suspicion initially grew around her race splits, specifically a remarkably fast segment between the 35-kilometer and 40-kilometer marks where the cycling photographs were taken. Following the visual confirmation, Berlin Marathon organizers officially disqualified Yuanjuan from the event. Athletic brand Brooks subsequently severed its sponsorship agreement with her, leaving the influencer—who commands a following of more than half a million users on the Chinese social platform Red Note—facing severe public backlash and the loss of her primary backing.
Yuanjuan Apologizes as Brooks Terminates Commercial Ties
Writing under her social media handle Abeeeer, Yuanjuan issued an apology to her followers on Red Note. Cycling during the Berlin Marathon actually violated competition rules,
she wrote, adding that she participated while feeling unwell. But that should never be a reason to break the rules. My opportunistic handling was a sign of disrespect for fair competition and the marathon’s spirit. I sincerely apologize to everyone.
Footwear manufacturer Brooks confirmed to the BBC that it had terminated its commercial ties with the runner, stating that the company considers that running should build on integrity, fairness, and respect for the competition.
Tigst Assefa and Guye Adola Win Berlin Marathon
While the cheating controversy involving Yuanjuan drew international media scrutiny—with outlets like The Sun labeling the actions shameless and News.com reporting that she had lost everything
—the elite competition concluded without incident. Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa and Guye Adola secured victories in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively, at the annual Berlin Marathon.
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