Internet Claims Chinese Runner Permitted to Win Marathon, Investigation Launched

He Jie emerged as the winner of the Beijing Half Marathon, which took place on a Sunday. However, controversy arose when some observers claimed that he was allowed to win. A video posted on X shows Kenyan runner Willy Mnangat gesturing for He to move ahead just meters from the finish line.

The four athletes had run together for the entire race, with Mnangat later explaining that he saw himself as a pacemaker to help He win. After the race, Mnangat stated that he allowed He to win because he is his friend. He expressed confusion about his bib or chest number, noting that his role was to set the pace and help He win, but they fell short of their goal to break the national record.

The winning time was 1:03:44, but they missed the record by one minute and 11 seconds, while Mnangat, Keter, and Bikila tied for second place. The victory and the circumstances surrounding it stirred debate in Chinese social media, with some users expressing dissatisfaction with the result and calling for an investigation into the fairness of the competition. The controversy raised concerns about the integrity of sports and the need to maintain fairness and respect for athletes’ efforts.

It’s worth noting that He had achieved praise six months earlier for becoming the first Chinese national to win gold in the Men’s Marathon event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.