SHAANXI: A Chinese university graduate marked his graduation by carrying more than 70 marathon medals onto the convocation stage, celebrating the determination that helped fund his education through competitive running.
Jin Yanwei (
pic), 24, who graduated from Xi'an Traffic Engineering Institute in Shaanxi Province, received his degree on June 23 before returning to the stage with a shoulder pole carrying dozens of medals, while several more hung around his neck, drawing applause and cheers from students and lecturers.
A non-sports student, Jin began running marathons in 2021 and has since averaged 15 kilometres a day, covering between 350 and 400 kilometres each month and a total of 7,835 kilometres over the past two years. He won his first marathon in 2023 and claimed a gold medal in the 5,000-metre race at the 42nd Shaanxi Provincial University Sports Meeting the same year.
"It is not easy for my parents to make money, so if I can earn some through running to support my university life, I can relieve my family's financial burden," said Jin, who has not returned to his hometown in Luochuan County for family reunions during the past three years because of his training, according to the
South China Morning Post.
"I am just an ordinary person who loves running. On many occasions, I thought of giving up, but I told myself to carry on for just one more step," he said, adding that he hopes his experience encourages other runners because "your sweat and efforts won't be wasted."
Following graduation, Jin said he would join China's Western Plan to serve grassroots communities as a volunteer in poorer regions, while his story drew praise online.
