Chinese fitness influencer Sun Yuanyuan, known online as Abeeeer, has been disqualified from the 2026 Berlin Marathon. Sun completed the September 27 marathon with a recorded time of 4:53:46, initially celebrating the result as a personal best. Her achievement was reported by the Daily Times of Nigeria on October 8, 2026.
Sun's result came under scrutiny after the Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit published photographs showing her riding pillion on a bicycle near the 38-kilometre mark. The images quickly spread online, prompting widespread criticism. According to reports, Sun's 35km to 40km section took 30 minutes and 49 seconds, her fastest five-kilometre split of the entire race.
Sun later admitted that she had ridden the bicycle and acknowledged that doing so violated marathon rules. In an apology posted on October 3, she said she had been feeling physically unwell during the race but accepted that this was not an excuse for breaking the rules. She also admitted deliberately leaving the bicycle ride out when she later shared her marathon experience online.
The controversy has also cost Sun a major sponsorship. Sportswear company Brooks China, which had worked with the influencer ahead of the marathon, terminated its partnership with her after reviewing the incident. The company also apologised, saying it had failed to examine her race data and performance closely enough and would strengthen its checks on future collaborators.
The incident has reignited debate about the pressure on social-media influencers to produce impressive sporting achievements for their audiences. With race times easily shared online, a personal-best performance can quickly become valuable content, sponsorship material and a source of credibility. This has raised concerns about the impact of social media on athletes' behavior.
Modern marathon events increasingly use timing checkpoints, photographs and video evidence to identify irregular performances. Sun's case demonstrates how unusual split times can attract scrutiny even after an athlete crosses the finish line. For runners who complete the full distance, the controversy also highlights the importance of fairness in mass-participation races.
Sun has since removed her Berlin Marathon-related posts from her Xiaohongshu account and publicly accepted responsibility for her actions. Her disqualification and the loss of her sponsorship now form the aftermath of what initially appeared to be a personal-best achievement. The episode serves as another reminder that in the age of social media, sporting claims can face scrutiny long after the finish line.
Key points
- Sun Yuanyuan, a Chinese fitness influencer, was disqualified from the 2026 Berlin Marathon for riding a bicycle during the race.
- The incident has sparked debate about the pressure on social-media influencers to produce impressive sporting achievements.
- Sun lost a major sponsorship with Brooks China following the incident.
