Berlin Marathon Controversy: Influencer Removes Sponsorship After Bicycle Breach
The Berlin Marathon’s event chronicle took a turn for the worse when Chinese fitness star Sun Yuanyuan—who runs under the handle Abeeeer—was caught riding a bicycle during the final kilometres. An Instagram profile devoted to policing race‑time accuracy traced her on a bike between the 35‑km and 40‑km markers and calculated a sudden spike in her split times.
After the post went viral, Sun issued an apology on the Rednote platform, claiming physical illness but admitting that her attempt at a shortcut was disrespectful to race integrity. Her confession led the U.S. based manufacturer Brooks to end its partnership and the Berlin organisers to void her finish time.
The body that first flagged the incident, the Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit, says it aims to expose GPS‑based fabrication, selective Strava displays and false PR claims common among influencer runners. While its Instagram bio jokingly labels itself satire, the organization’s mission is to preserve fair competition.
Brooks China released a statement emphasising that running should be grounded in integrity, fairness, and respect for competition. The company confirmed that it had terminated its relationship with Sun after verifying the facts.
The incident raises questions about the growing culture of performance fraud promoted through social media, and it prompts organisers worldwide to strengthen monitoring tools on marathon routes.
