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Influencer Matt Choi disqualified from New York City Marathon

Matthew Choi, a running influencer from Austin, Texas, who finished the New York City Marathon in 2:57:15 on November 3, was banned from the event after riding electric bikes for much of the route with two people by his side had run and filmed his race.

The New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon and dozens of other major races in the city, issued a statement on Nov. 4 that said in part: “Following a review and due to violations of the World Athletics Rules and the New York Road Runners Rules.” In accordance with the Code of Conduct and Contest Rules, NYRR has disqualified Matt Choi from the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and removed him from the results. He has been banned from all future NYRR races.”

Choi, 29, “ran around the course with the help of two trespassers riding electric bicycles, obstructing the runners,” the statement said.

Complete the marathon

Shortly after the race, threads appeared on Reddit and LetsRun complaining about Choi and how the e-bikes hindered other runners on the crowded New York City course. Every year, the NYC Marathon issues detailed rules to participants explaining what is and is not allowed on the course.

A message sent to Choi via social media from Runner's world was not immediately returned.

Choi, who has more than 465,000 followers on TikTok and 405,000 on Instagram, runs shirtless and wearing a backwards baseball cap. In a clip posted to the Instagram page for the Matt Choi show, he says: “I don’t even think running is my job. I am a creator first and then I run.”

This isn't the first time Choi has caused controversy in a marathon. In 2023, he ran the Houston Marathon with someone else's bib number. (Some races allow bib transfers, but the Houston Marathon does not.) Choi apologized at the time.

Choi, a former soccer player, has had some impressive performances. On November 3, he averaged 6:46 hours per mile in New York, and in May he ran a time of 1:24:26 hours (6:27 minutes) at the Brooklyn Half Marathon.

According to the NYRR statement, Choi has the right to appeal the decision to NYRR.

Run your best marathon

The comments on his Instagram posts about his race were not kind.

“The disrespect towards other runners is disgusting,” reads one post. “Pick up your 'film crew' from the course.”

Sarah Lorge Butler is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon. Her stories about the sport, its trends and fascinating people have appeared in Runner's world since 2005. She is the author of two popular fitness books: Run your butt off! And Get off your ass!

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