| He Jie | |
| Birth Date: | 27 December 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Pingluo County, Ningxia, China |
He Jie (born 27 December 1998) is a Chinese athlete from Pingluo County.[1] He competes in long-distance running.[2]
In 2023, he won the gold medal in the men's marathon at the postponed Asian Games.[3] He is the current Chinese record holder in the marathon with a time of 2:06:57 set in Wuxi on 24 March 2024.
On 14 April 2024, he won the Beijing Half Marathon. His finish was controversial as three African runners ahead of him - Willy Mnangat (Kenyan), Robert Keter (Kenyan), and Dejene Hailu Bikila (Ethiopian) - appeared to let him win.[4] Mnangat later said that he was entered as a pacemaker for He, not unusual in road races, and that he was never intended to be an actual competitor in the race. The African runners were not listed as pacemakers by the race organizers, but Mnangat said, "My agent from Kenya told me, when I was going to get the visa, that I am going to China to help the Chinese break the national record".[5]
Pacemakers are used in various World Athletics Label Road Races, including the Beijing Half Marathon, and their use is permitted by World Athletics.[6] [7] [8]
On 19 April 2024, He and the three pacemakers of Ethiopian and Kenyan nationalities who allegedly aided his final championship were disqualified by the committee of the 2024 Beijing Half Marathon with their trophies revoked.[9] [10]