A runner was disqualified from the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday after he was seen running part of the race with a baby strapped to his chest, a move that drew swift action from race officials and sharp criticism online.
Video of the incident, shared widely on social media, shows the man wearing bib number A2055 jogging along the course with an infant secured in a front carrier between the 10- and 15-kilometre marks. The baby appeared to be wearing a small race bib pinned to its jacket, and its head could be seen bouncing as the runner moved forward.
According to official live-tracking data, the runner, identified by the surname Wang, started the full marathon at 6:25 a.m. He reached roughly 15 kilometres in about two hours and 20 minutes, averaging around nine minutes per kilometre, before being stopped by officials and ordered to leave the course.
Race Officials Cite Safety and Rule Violations
The Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA), which organizes the marathon, said the runner violated clear competition rules by bringing an infant onto the course.
“Runners must adhere to the official competition rules and refrain from any actions during the race that could pose a danger to themselves or others,” the organization said in a statement. Race regulations ban participants from running with infants, children under 16, or anyone not wearing a valid race bib, and allow officials to remove violators immediately.
Footage from the race shows Wang also carrying a backpack and holding a mobile phone in one hand while using the other to support the baby’s head and neck. Other runners passing by are seen turning their heads to look.
The South China Morning Post reported that the HKAAA has since banned the runner from taking part in future events.
Online Backlash and Public Response
The images quickly sparked outrage online, with many users calling the act reckless. “The baby could easily have suffered a concussion,” one commenter wrote. Another said, “If he had tripped and fallen forward, the baby could have been crushed.”
Some also questioned how the runner was able to pass multiple checkpoints before being stopped.
Peter Douglas Koon Ho-ming, an Election Committee lawmaker and chairman of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, said the decision to remove the runner was justified. He described the situation as dangerous, noting the risk of collisions and the physical strain placed on the infant in a crowded race environment.
What Happened Next
Local media later reported that Wang and his family had returned to Nanning, in China’s Guangxi region, shortly after the marathon. Police have contacted him by phone and are attempting to arrange for him to return to Hong Kong to provide a statement.
While some races allow parents to push children in strollers, the Hong Kong Marathon does not. Organizers said the incident served as a reminder that marathons are unpredictable, high-traffic events where safety rules are enforced for a reason, especially when vulnerable people are involved.
