Chinese marathoner Li Meizhen completed the 2024 Hengshui Lake Marathon with blood visible on her legs after menstrual bleeding became apparent beyond the 34-kilometer mark, then crossed the finish line in two hours, 35 minutes and seven seconds.
The race was held on September 22, 2024, in Hengshui, Hebei, China. The 42.195-kilometer event also served as the second stop of the 2024 Chinese National Marathon Championships. By the time the bleeding became visible, Li had already covered more than four-fifths of the course, with roughly eight kilometers, or five miles, left.
Li said she continued because she needed to meet a season points requirement that involved completing two championship marathons. Withdrawing would have forced her to run another full marathon later.
In an English translation of her social media remarks published by My Modern Met, Li said she had already passed 34 kilometers and did not want to withdraw from the championship race at that stage. “That’s why I was determined to finish, even if my time wasn’t great,” she wrote.
Her decision produced an official race result. World Athletics records Li in 16th place in the overall women’s marathon. She completed the remaining stretch while blood remained visible on her thighs.
Images and footage from the race later circulated widely online, drawing praise and renewed discussion about menstrual stigma in sport. Li also thanked those who supported her and said she was fine.
“Thank you for your concern, I’m okay and nothing serious happened,” she wrote in the same published translation.
Li’s explanation remained focused on the race and the consequence of withdrawing. After more than 34 kilometers, she completed roughly eight more kilometers with visible bleeding and secured an official 16th-place finish.
