Chinese Influencer Fired by Sponsor After Berlin Marathon Bike Stunt
Sun Yuanyuan – better known on Chinese platforms as Abeeeer – claimed a personal best in last month’s Berlin Marathon, only for an Instagram feed to expose a bicycle ride between the 35km and 40km points of the official course. The sport‑tracking account, the Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit, posted the footage and a split‑time grid that showed Sun’s pace jump in that very segment, confirming a rule breach.
Sun immediately issued an apology on the Rednote platform, admitting she had “broken the rules” in a bid to overcome feeling physically unwell, and she vowed never to repeat the conduct. She also acknowledged that she had deliberately hidden the incident, calling it “deeply guilty”.
Brooks China confirmed it had terminated its relationship with the athlete. A company statement read: “Brooks believes running should be grounded in integrity, fairness, and respect for competition. After verifying the facts, Brooks China terminated its relationship with the individual and publicly addressed the matter.”
The OMTIU was created to flag GPS‑based fabrication and selective Strava displays among marathon participants, a trend particularly common among fitness influencers. Its mission statement focuses on ensuring that publicly shared times truly reflect the effort run by athletes.
The Berlin Marathon organisers have not yet issued an official comment, and the incident has sparked debate over the authenticity of online race results and the role of sponsorship in upholding sports ethics.
