Just three days after amateur runner Zhang Shuihua won this year’s Harbin Marathon, her sponsor — Chinese sports brand 361 Degrees — terminated her contract on Wednesday, and all of their related content had been deleted from Zhang’s social media accounts.

The rift comes after users flooded the sports brand’s livestreaming commentary section, demanding that the brand cut ties with the athlete. An anonymous informed source told domestic media that the decision between 361 Degrees and Zhang to part ways was “mutual.”

Zhang, a nurse at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, completed the race in an incredible 2:35:27, earning her the title the “fastest nurse” in China. However, her victory in the capital of China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province made headlines not only for her outstanding time but also for comments that she made in a tearful post-run interview.

In it, she implored her department head to recognize her extra-curricular pursuit. “I just want my boss to support me changing shifts on the weekend, because everyone knows how busy and tired medical staff are,” she said.

Zhang’s boss had previously told her that she could attend the event only if she and a colleague could work out a shift swap on their own, sparking heated debate online about whether employers should cater to employees’ hobbies outside of work.

While some netizens applauded the idea of employers supporting staff’s personal passions, others mused about how Zhang’s frequent running may have affected her colleagues’ own interests, and put added pressure on the hospital where she works.

On Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, a nurse who had reportedly previously interned in Zhang’s department commented, “Because of her impressive marathon results, the hospital and department were initially very cooperative. A few of her race schedules conflicted with her work, and colleagues often helped out.”

They added that Zhang’s commitments went far beyond marathons, including regular interviews, filming, and training sessions.

Another fellow nurse using the pseudonym Zhao Qiao told domestic media that Zhang usually works rotating shifts, making scheduling particularly difficult. “If someone on her shift takes a day off, another nurse has to step in,” they said.

Netizens estimated that based on Zhang’s Douyin posts, she has participated in at least 10 marathons outside of her home province of Fujian, in eastern China.

However, Zhao, also a marathoner, emphasized that Zhang’s frustration was genuine. “The core issue lies in how to optimize scheduling systems for medical workers.”

Workload for medical personnel is high in China, which also faces a significant shortage of nurses. By the end of 2024, the total number of registered nurses in the country was 5.85 million, or 4.16 per 1,000 per capita, less than half the average of 9.2 per 1,000 population across countries participating in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), of which China is a key partner.

The day after the marathon, on Sept. 1, Zhang posted on Douyin: “Marathons aren’t just some needless pastime; they’re another way to find meaning in life and part of my personal goals.” She later deleted the post.

Weng Shangeng, the hospital’s head, told domestic media that the institution encourages employees to pursue personal hobbies as long as their work is not affected.

On Thursday, the hospital’s communication office confirmed with Sixth Tone that the hospital was still in talks with Zhang about her shifts. The hospital did not specify whether Zhang reported to work that day.

Editor: Marianne Gunnarsson.

(Header image: Zhang Shuihua running the 2025 Harbin Marathon in Heilongjiang province, Aug. 31, 2025. VCG)