Better Than Zhang Shuihua? 34-Year-Old Bank Programmer Runs 71 km in Three Days to Win Two Titles, Earning the Crown of “People’s Marathon Queen”

Recently, Huang Xuemei—widely known as the “People’s Marathon Queen”—has sparked widespread discussion after winning two races within just three days.

When it comes to amateur marathon running, many fans first think of Zhang Shuihua, the former “fastest nurse.” However, in terms of pure competitive performance and consistency, Huang Xuemei has clearly set herself apart.

At 34, Huang is a programmer at Xiamen International Bank. She rose to prominence after winning the women’s title in the mass participation marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In 2025, she went on to claim the domestic women’s title at the Beijing Marathon, with a personal best of 2:29:51—an extraordinary mark for a non-professional runner.

On January 23, Huang captured the women’s 50 km title at the Hong Kong 100 Ultra Trail Race, finishing in 4:48:12 and breaking the course record. Remarkably, this was her first-ever trail race, yet she displayed exceptional adaptability and endurance, sealing a comeback victory.

Just two days later, on January 25, she successfully defended her title at the Kinmen Marathon women’s half marathon. Competing back-to-back is challenging enough, but switching from trail running to road racing adds another layer of difficulty—one demands climbing strength, terrain adaptability, and stamina, while the other emphasizes pace control and speed.

Covering 71 kilometers in three days and claiming two championships, this bank programmer delivered a defining moment for amateur runners and showcased the true pinnacle of mass marathon competition.