At 14:19:01 local time on Thursday, Chinese runner Wang Shouhui crossed the finish line, officially bringing this year’s Ultra Gobi 400 to a close. His remarkable journey began the previous Friday — and, 136 hours, 46 minutes, and 31 seconds later, his incredible effort reached its triumphant end.  “This course was truly challenging. Even though I gave it my all, I still feel the urge to push myself even harder. There’s a quiet sense of loss in my heart — not because of the final ranking, but because I’m about to leave this beautiful place. It’s hard to say goodbye. I’m not ready to return to the city yet. I know I’ll miss everything about this place deeply.”  Fifty-five long-distance runners set out to conquer 400 kilometers across the Gobi Desert, following the ancient Silk Road and climbing a total of 3,000 meters in elevation gain. Of these, fifty athletes successfully completed the course self-supported, earning their place in the final rankings. Cody Poskin (USA) and Zheng Junyue (China) claimed victory, with the United States emerging as the most successful nation — securing one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal — followed by China (one gold, one silver) and Serbia (one silver). “Last year, when I also won, I was completely focused on success and had no eyes or thoughts for anything except being as fast as possible,” said Zheng Junyue. “This year, I enjoyed the race much more. I took time to chat briefly with other runners, admired the landscape, and once again realized how man and nature merge into one in the Gobi.”  “It was an incredible race from start to finish,” said Cody Poskin. “I love the feeling of running at the front, but toward the end it became really challenging for me. It’s hard to say exactly why I won — maybe I just wanted it more than the others. In any case, the organization, the landscape, and the volunteers’ dedication were an absolute dream — everything was beautiful and perfect.”To view the full results, click here: Results List  Almost every participant praised the extraordinary dedication of the staff and volunteers. Every need of the athletes was anticipated — from comfortable sleeping areas to organized massage sessions ensuring their recovery and well-being. “We are very pleased that Ultra Gobi 400 has been so warmly received again this year,” said Qu Xiangdong, CEO of the Organizing Committee. “I would particularly like to emphasize that the 400 km race is just the tip of the iceberg among all the events we organize. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Ultra Gobi, and the international team events organized by business schools — covering 121 km — were a great success, as were the individual races over 121 km, 29 km, and 17 km.” Throughout the year, Ultra Gobi hosts five major events, including hiking experiences through the Gobi Desert open to all age groups — from children to seniors. “Although Ultra Gobi 400 is a high-level sporting event, we also see it as our mission to showcase the beauty of nature and preserve the cultural heritage of this region. Ultra Gobi is, therefore, both an ambassador of the desert and a driving force for domestic and international tourism.” At the closing ceremony, awards were presented and congratulatory speeches delivered, celebrating the achievements of all who took part. The date for Ultra Gobi 2026 will be announced soon!  Text Credits: Egon Theiner Photo Credits: Ultra Gobi Video Credits: ICARUS Sports |
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