Nurse Who Quit Hospital Shifts Earns RM3 Million As A Marathon Runner
Her estimated pre-tax earnings over the past 10 months have exceeded USD700,000 (RM2.86 million).
Cover image via Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
A former hospital nurse in China has drawn international attention after earning approximately 5 million yuan (RM3.06 million) in prize money and corporate endorsements just 10 months after quitting her nursing job to pursue distance running full-time
Zhang Shuihua captured widespread public attention on 18 October after winning the women's division at the Xi'an Marathon.
Clocking a personal best of two hours, 29 minutes and seven seconds, she shattered the previous record set in 2024 by Ethiopian runner Derartu Hailu Gerefa, who ran two hours, 29 minutes and 37 seconds.
The victory earned her nearly USD15,000 (RM61,266), including a first-place prize of USD12,000 (RM49,013) and a USD3,000 (RM12,253) course record bonus.
Zhang Shihua crossing the finish line in the women's marathon event.
Image via BaiduZhang's path into elite competition differs markedly from that of traditional state-trained athletes
Formerly employed as a clinical nurse at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, she started running recreationally without coaching. She balanced demanding physical conditioning with irregular hospital shift patterns, training during her off-hours.
Her profile rose significantly at the Harbin Marathon in August 2025, where she emerged as the fastest female athlete after finishing in two hours, 35 minutes and 27 seconds.
A post-race interview went viral online after she wept while describing her struggles to negotiate weekend shift swaps with colleagues.
While many netizens sympathised with the demanding workloads faced by healthcare workers, others argued that personal pursuits should not inconvenience coworkers.
Controversy escalated in December 2025 when the hospital issued Zhang a six-month formal warning
Management confirmed that she had taken part in commercial promotions without proper institutional clearance and provided misleading reasons for shift adjustments after signing an endorsement deal with a sportswear brand.
Faced with growing administrative hurdles, Zhang resigned from her nursing post on 2 January this year to focus entirely on professional competition.
Despite scepticism about whether self-trained runners could make a sustainable living, she went on to secure a string of podium finishes across China
She took second place at the Nanjing Beian Marathon before clinching record-breaking victories in Lishui and Liuzhou, walking away from Liuzhou with USD4,500 (RM18,380) in cash and a new car valued at USD15,000 (RM61,266) as an unseeded participant.
Commercial interest soon followed her athletic success
In February 2026, she secured sponsorship agreements with three eyewear brands in a single week.
She expanded her online presence through 34 e-commerce livestreams promoting nutritional supplements and sports gear, doubling her social media following to over 180,000.
Her estimated pre-tax earnings over the past 10 months have exceeded USD700,000 (RM2.86 million).
