After an interval of just one week, former "fastest nurse" Zhang Shuihua has secured another championship title. On March 29th, at the Liuzhou Marathon in Guangxi, Zhang Shuihua crossed the finish line to claim first place in the women's division. On the morning of March 29th, it was confirmed that Zhang Shuihua finished the Liuzhou Marathon with a gun time of 2 hours, 36 minutes, and 22 seconds (the final result is pending official confirmation by the event organizers), earning her the women's champion title. Just one week prior, on March 22nd, Zhang Shuihua participated in the Lishui Marathon, where she broke the event record with a time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 49 seconds to win the race.
Zhang Shuihua was previously a nurse employed within the establishment of a hospital in Fuzhou, Fujian province. On August 31st of last year, she won the domestic women's division at the Harbin Marathon, earning her the nickname "fastest nurse." A post-race interview where she emotionally expressed hope for her supervisors' support in adjusting her work schedule sparked controversy. On January 2, 2026, Zhang Shuihua announced her resignation from the hospital.
Since leaving her job, Zhang Shuihua has participated in numerous marathons, achieving impressive results. On March 19th, the Chinese Athletics Association updated its list of domestic elite athletes for 2026 road running events, and Zhang Shuihua appeared for the first time in the International Master Athlete category. As a non-professional athlete, Zhang Shuihua's commercial value has begun to become prominent, attracting brand endorsements. Since February of this year, she has successively signed sponsorship agreements with companies including Reebok and XTEP INT'L.
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