She was 34 kilometers into a marathon when her period started, and Li Meizhen still refused to stop.
She was 34 kilometers into a marathon when her period started, and Li Meizhen still refused to stop. The 25-year-old elite runner from China went viral after finishing the 2024 Hengshui Lake Marathon despite an unexpected menstruation leak late in the race. With roughly five miles left, spectators and cameras around her, and visible blood running down her legs, Li kept pushing forward. She crossed the finish line in an impressive 2 hours and 35 minutes. When asked later on social media why she did not drop out, Li gave a practical answer: “If I quit, this would mean I would have to run another marathon.” She explained that she needed an official finish to meet the qualifying standard for an upcoming championship. Her moment quickly spread across Chinese social platforms and beyond, with many praising her focus, toughness, and refusal to be embarrassed by something completely natural. Li’s performance also fed into a wider conversation about menstruation in sports. For generations, peri...