She later came under scrutiny after photographs appeared to show her riding a bicycle during the final part of the marathon. The influencer, known online as Abeeeer, completed the September 27 race in 4 hours, 53 minutes and 46 seconds.
A Chinese fitness influencer has apologised after being caught riding on the back of a bicycle during the Berlin Marathon, where she had earlier claimed a personal best.
The case has also reignited debate over the pressure on social media influencers to post impressive sporting achievements, particularly when their results are tied to sponsorships and online popularity.
Sportswear company Brooks China confirmed that it had ended its relationship with her after reviewing the incident. CBC News noted that the incident is part of a wider history of marathon cheating, where some runners have been caught using shortcuts or other methods to record faster times.
The incident came to light after a fellow runner photographed her on the bicycle and shared the image with the Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit, an online group that examines suspicious marathon performances, according to CBC News . The company also acknowledged that it had failed to properly verify her race performance and said it would strengthen its checks for future partnerships.
