On September 4th， it has been reported that Zhang Shuihua， widely known as the “fastest female nurse，” has had her contract with the sportswear brand 361 Degrees terminated. This development follows significant public attention garnered by her emotional plea for administrative support to take time off for marathon running after winning a race.
Yesterday， during a live broadcast on 361 Degrees’ official flagship store， a notice was displayed in front of the host. The text on the notice stated: “361 Degrees has terminated its contract with marathon runner ‘fastest female nurse’.”
When a viewer inquired whether an official announcement had been made， the host responded by gesturing to their face and indicating that the prominent display of the notice within the official store’s live stream was a clear indication of the resolution.
A colored banner also appeared during the broadcast， reading: “Contract terminated. We advocate for sports and a greater love for life.”
Further media reports indicate that the collaboration between 361 Degrees and Zhang Shuihua has concluded due to adjustments in their respective development paths.
Sources close to the situation have stated that 361 Degrees is committed to a long-term vision in its athlete partnerships. This particular adjustment is described as a mutual decision reached through amicable discussions， and it does not affect the brand’s existing collaborations with other athletes.
Background of the Incident:
On August 31， 2025， nurse Zhang Shuihua successfully defended her domestic women’s championship at the Harbin Marathon， finishing with a personal best time of 2 hours， 35 minutes， and 27 seconds.
In a post-race interview， she revealed that her request for leave from her duties was met with the view from her leadership that marathon running was merely a personal hobby and did not warrant special support. She was advised to coordinate shifts with her colleagues. Zhang Shuihua expressed her hope for administrative support in scheduling weekend leave to facilitate her participation in marathons.
Her remarks ignited widespread public discussion， with opinions divided. Some netizens supported the idea that employers should encourage employees’ personal pursuits， finding her dedication and passion commendable. Conversely， a segment of commenters pointed out that Zhang Shuihua had participated in 10 races between March and June of the same year. This suggested that her colleagues might have covered her shifts for over 30 days in a six-month period. Critics argued that her frequent requests for leave could disrupt her colleagues’ rest. Furthermore， they noted that her ability to compete implied that her colleagues had indeed accommodated her schedule， yet she failed to express gratitude upon winning and instead publicly voiced her dissatisfaction， which was perceived by some as highly self-serving.
