Chinese fitness star loses sponsor after bike stunt at Berlin Marathon

Wed Oct 07 2026 22:49:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Chinese influencer Sun Yuanyuan admits to riding a bike during Berlin Marathon, faces disqualification and Brooks sponsors terminate partnership.

Sun Yuanyuan, known online as Abeeeer, claimed a personal best at Berlin Marathon but was caught hopping on a bike during the race. An Instagram watchdog featured a photo of her on a bike between the 35km and 40km marks, prompting an apology and race time disqualification. Brooks China terminated the sponsorship, citing integrity. The scandal highlights the growing issue of GPS‑based cheating among fitness influencers.

Chinese fitness star loses sponsor after bike stunt at Berlin Marathon

Berlin Marathon crowd — Photo by Getty Images (Berlin Marathon)

Sun Yuanyuan, aka Abeeeer, a 520,000‑follower fitness influencer, declared a personal best at the Berlin Marathon last September. However, an Instagram account that flags race‑time fraud posted a photo showing her riding a bicycle between the 35km and 40km markers.

The watchdog, called the Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit (OMTIU), also highlighted a splits grid that shows a speed jump during the bike segment, further questioning her official finish.

Sun promptly apologized on the Chinese platform Rednote, stating that she had been physically unwell and had intentionally concealed the shortcut. The post was shared by OMTIU, and the marathon organisers disqualified her result.

Brooks China confirmed it has ended its partnership with Sun, citing a commitment to integrity, fairness and respect for competition. “After verifying the facts, Brooks China terminated its relationship with the individual,” the company said.

The incident follows the rise of GPS‑based cheating, selective strength‑pulling on Strava, and false personal record claims among influencer runners. OMTIU’s mission is to protect the integrity of the sport by ensuring that the times publicised reflect what athletes actually ran.

Berlin Marathon officials have been asked for comment, while audiences are calling for stricter race‑tracking protocols.