Former nurse Zhang Shuihua won his first title as a full-time marathoner – and in record time – at the 2026 Lishui Marathon, three months after announcing his resignation from his “iron rice bowl” position.
Once known as China’s “fastest female nurse”, Zhang sparked controversy last year after winning the Harbin Marathon as an athlete, after which she tearfully pleaded with her “leaders to support her request to take time off to run marathons”.
Six months later, and after resigning from her part-time nursing post, the 35-year-old crossed the line in Sunday’s race in two hours, 35 minutes and 49 seconds to claim the full women’s marathon title.
For doing so, Zhang received a trophy and a prize of 10,000 yuan (US$1,380).
In addition, the professional athlete received an additional 30,000 yuan for breaking the course record of 2:38:49 by nearly three minutes, bringing his total earnings for the event to 40,000 yuan.
This brought the athlete’s total prize money now sponsored from just five races this year to about 85,000 yuan, significantly more than what she would have earned as a nurse during that period.
