This is the moment a race official sprints onto the course, grabs the leading runner and injures him by shoving him off the track just ten metres from the finish line at a Chinese marathon.
The incident took place at the 2026 Chongqing Wanzhou Huanhu Marathon in Wanzhou, Chongqing, China, on 15th March.
Sheng Xueli, from Yunnan province, was leading the men’s full marathon when an official wearing a white raincoat ran out and intercepted him as he was about to cross the line, physically pushing him into the half-marathon finishers’ chute.
The official had mistaken Sheng for a half-marathon runner who had strayed onto the full marathon course. Full marathon runners wore white bibs and half-marathon runners wore orange-red bibs.
The race announcer had already called out Sheng’s race number over the public address system at the time of the incident.
After intervention from other officials and spectators, Sheng was guided back to complete a symbolic finish.
Organisers confirmed his recorded time of 2 hours, 23 minutes and 53 seconds, captured at the moment of interception, was deemed his official result. He was named the winner and the time stood as a personal best.
The race organising committee said the official’s glasses had been obscured by rain, causing the error.
The official apologised to Sheng in person after the race. Sheng said he accepted the apology.
Sheng later posted on social media that he had sustained a tibialis anterior muscle strain from the sudden stop.
On 16th March, the Chongqing Athletics Association banned the official, identified only by the surname Zhu, from officiating at marathon events for one year.
On 17th March, the China Athletics Association increased the ban to two years, effective 16th March 2026 to 15 March 2028, and issued a formal criticism of the event’s organising committee.
The event holds China Athletics Association A1 certification and attracted approximately 12,000 participants across the marathon and half-marathon distances.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Aloysius Fernandes, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: AsiaWire Report
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