A fitness influencer admitted cheating at the Berlin Marathon after photos showed her riding a bike mid-race.
Running a marathon is supposed to be a test of endurance, but one influencer's Berlin Marathon performance has sparked controversy after she was caught getting a ride on a bicycle. Chinese fitness creator Abeeeer initially celebrated her 4:53:46 finish as a personal best before photos from the course raised questions about how she completed the race.
Influencer Caught Getting a Ride During Marathon
Abeeeer, who has around 530,000 followers, ran the Berlin Marathon on September 27. She later posted about her 4:53:46 finish, presenting it as a personal achievement.
That celebration quickly came under scrutiny. Photos shared by the Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit showed Abeeeer riding on the back of a bicycle around the 38-kilometer mark.
Her race data made the situation even more suspicious. According to reports cited by Dexerto, Abeeeer's fastest five-kilometer stretch came between kilometers 35 and 40. She completed that section in 30 minutes and 49 seconds, more than six minutes faster than her previous five-kilometer split. That was the same part of the course where she was photographed getting a ride.
Abeeeer initially explained that she had become unwell during the race and got onto a friend's bicycle while looking for an official so she could withdraw. She later decided to keep running and claimed she returned to the point where she got on the bike.
Abeeeer Apologizes and Loses Sponsor
The influencer later changed her stance. In an apology published on October 3, she acknowledged that accepting the bicycle ride violated the rules. She also admitted that she deliberately concealed what had happened in her posts after the race.
Abeeeer said feeling unwell did not excuse her actions and acknowledged that she had disrespected fair competition. Her marathon-related posts have since been removed.
The controversy has already affected her professional career. On October 4, sportswear company Brooks China ended its partnership with Abeeeer. The company also apologized for failing to properly check her participation and race data before working with her.
Brooks China said it would not work with the influencer again. For Abeeeer, what began as a claimed personal best has therefore turned into a major controversy over sportsmanship and honesty.
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