The runner with the runs: Chinese athlete suffers diarrhoea nightmare at Shanghai half-marathon
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Netizens have shown sympathy towards a top Chinese male runner who won his category despite having to run more than six kilometres of the Shanghai international half-marathon suffering from the ailment we all dread – diarrhoea.
Wu Xiangdong felt uncomfortable after 10km of running and from the 14km mark onwards he had to relieve himself the only way he knew (in the spirit of sport) as he tried to keep pace during the 21km race. Naturally, (excuse the pun), he needed the portable toilet to complete some unfinished business in a race Wu would rather forget over the weekend.
Embarrassed by the whole episode, Wu admitted that he felt “unwell” but kept running “until I achieved my mark”.
“Even I couldn’t stand the smell,” said a relieved Wu, who finished in one hour, six minutes and 16 seconds.