Nurse and amateur marathoner Zhang Shuihua’s tearful post-race interview has ignited debate over China’s work culture. The 34-yearold, who works at a Fujian Province hospital, clocked an impressive 2:35:27 at this year’s Harbin Marathon in Heilongjiang Province on August 31.
Though she came ninth in the women’s rankings, she was the first Chinese woman to cross the finish line, earning her the name “China’s fastest nurse” in media.
But when reporters asked how she juggles her job to compete, Zhang fought back tears: “I don’t ask my boss for extra leave. I just hope he’ll support me by letting me swap shifts on weekends.”
According to Zhang, her supervisor refused to give her time off, saying he would not reschedule shifts for her “personal hobby” and that she should arrange swaps directly with colleagues.
Public opinion has been split. Supporters argued that a marathoner competing at Zhang’s level deserved job flexibility, while critics said that repeated shift changes would unfairly burden her coworkers, forcing them to give up their own weekends.
On Douyin, a nurse who said she once interned in Zhang’s department claimed the hospital had initially been supportive, but Zhang’s frequent marathon appearances over the past three years meant colleagues had to cover too many of her weekend shifts.
Zhao Qiao, a marathoner and medical worker, told Dingduan News (under the Henan Daily) that Zhang’s frustration was understandable, but added: “Self-realization shouldn’t come at the expense of colleagues. The real issue is how to improve scheduling for medical staff.”
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