Continue to be Brilliant

This is a story of American who let America be Great again.

At the 2025 Tokyo Marathon, Mei (Meifang Zhu) once again proved her brilliance, finishing second in her age group (AG). This race also earned her a second International Athletics Federation Marathon Grand Slam six-star medal.

Mei won her first six-star medal in 2017. Over the years, she has become a celebrity in the North American Chinese running community and a symbol of the Dallas Chinese running group (DASH). Another standout from DASH is Meng Zhao, one of the top Chinese male runners in the 50-year-old AG category in North America. Mei, now in her 70s, remains the champion of her age group.

When DASH runners travel to marathons worldwide, they often hear the same question: “Oh, you’re from Dallas? Do you know Mei? I heard she runs faster than an explosion!”

This legend traces back to the 2013 Boston Marathon. Mei had just crossed the finish line when the infamous bombing occurred. The race was immediately halted, and most runners were unable to complete it. Because of this, Mei became known as “the runner who finished before the explosion.” But over time, the story evolved into a myth—that Mei ran faster than the explosion itself.

Her reputation even reached Japan. Before Mei ran the 2017 Tokyo Marathon, rumors spread that an American runner with an Asian face and faster than a bomb was coming to compete. In response, the organizers allegedly brought in a retired national-level athlete just to ensure Mei wouldn’t win. She placed second, and the incident became known in DASH circles as the “Pearl Harbor of marathons.”

Years passed. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed her return to Tokyo. After multiple cancellations, she finally secured a spot for the 2025 race through a charity entry. But just as everything seemed set, life took another unexpected turn—her son was suddenly admitted to the ICU.

Mei had no choice but to cancel her trip. She asked Tokyo Marathon officials if they could defer her entry to the following year, but the answer was no. It seemed that her rare opportunity was slipping away once again.

Then, fate intervened. After more than ten days in the ICU, her son recovered and was discharged. Mei could finally board her flight to Tokyo.

She raced, she fought, and once again, she finished second in her AG. Another six-star medal in hand.

But was this a victory for Japan? Or had Mei once again made an explosive impact in Tokyo?

Every time she performs well, Mei posts a photo in the DASH WeChat group, symbolizing that she is ready to retire—holding one running shoe in her hand, as if she might throw it down at any moment.

But no one believes her anymore.

After all, isn’t a third six-star medal already on the horizon?