Chinese fitness influencer Yuanyuan Sun has been disqualified from the 2026 Berlin Marathon after evidence emerged that she used a bicycle to cover part of the race. Sun, 30, completed the marathon on September 26 with a recorded time of 4 hours, 53 minutes, and 46 seconds, a personal best she celebrated by sharing photos of herself holding the race medal. However, an image circulated online showing her riding on the back of a bicycle during the final kilometers, prompting an investigation.
The Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit analyzed Sun’s split times, revealing an abnormal pace in the latter stages of the race. Between the 35th and 40th kilometer marks, she posted her fastest 5-kilometer segment, completing it six minutes faster than the preceding segment—an unusual improvement inconsistent with her overall performance. These irregularities supported suspicions that she had not covered the entire distance on foot.
In a statement on the Chinese social media platform Red Note, Sun acknowledged her misconduct, admitting she had intentionally concealed using a shortcut during the marathon. She expressed remorse, saying, “Riding a bicycle during the Berlin Marathon did indeed violate race rules. Even if I felt unwell on the course, it should never be a reason for me to break the rules.” Sun described her actions as “extremely dishonest” and expressed deep guilt.
Following the revelations, the marathon organizers disqualified Sun and removed her official finishing time from the race records. Additionally, she lost her sponsorship contract with Brooks China, a sportswear brand connected with the event, after she was seen wearing their shoes in post-race photos. A representative for Brooks China stated that the company promptly ended its collaboration upon confirming the facts and reaffirmed its dedication to integrity and fairness in sports.
Sun, known by her online alias Abeeer, has amassed a considerable following on social media, where she promotes fitness and running content. The incident has drawn attention to the challenges of monitoring race integrity in large-scale marathons and highlights the consequences athletes and influencers face when breaking competition rules.