Liang Xinde celebrates his victory at the La Grande Course 2023 held in France on June 10. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Chinese runner Liang Xinde, also known as "Da Li" in the running community, made history by becoming the first Chinese athlete to win the La Grande Course 2023 held in France in June.

The La Grande Course 2023 is the longest road ultra-marathon in a single European country, spanning an astounding distance of 3,682 kilometers. Participants must conquer this grueling race within a strict time limit of 63 days, tackling a cumulative elevation gain of approximately 41,000 meters. The number of individuals worldwide who have successfully finished the challenging La Grande Course is less than 50.

Liang, born in 1976 and hailing from Wenling, a county-level city in Taizhou, has proven himself to be an unwavering enthusiast of extreme running. For over two decades, he has fearlessly taken on more than 160 domestic and international events across all seven continents, including expeditions to the North and South Poles. Through his relentless determination, Liang continually pushes the boundaries of his physical endurance.

In 2020, Liang made headlines by conquering the formidable 400-km Kubuqi Desert in a staggering 19 days, averaging an astonishing 55 km per day. In 2019, he snatched the championship title in the Round Taiwan Ultra Marathon, completing the grueling 1,045-km race within a mere 19 days. Liang holds the record for the fastest completion of the North and South Poles running challenge among Chinese athletes, achieving this remarkable feat in just 28 days.