Running News Daily

Camille Herron and the Wikipedia Controversy: Integrity in Ultrarunning Under Scrutiny

Update: after reading our article Camille sent this to MBR "Individuals are violating World Athletic rules and publicly claiming they broke my records. It’s undermining the integrity of the sport and devaluing those who adhere to the rules and the ratified record holders, including me. 

I hope Yiannis’s statement provides added clarity who’s behind the push to disregard the rules and retaliated against me."

Camille Herron recently addressed the Wikipedia controversy on her Facebook page, expressing her commitment to fairness and accountability in ultrarunning. She acknowledged the challenges of speaking up about rules and technicalities, noting that it can lead to retaliation.

Herron emphasized that the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) has validated her concerns twice, confirming that she continues to hold the IAU World Records and World Bests for 48 Hours and 6 Days. She concluded by thanking her supporters and reaffirming her dedication to integrity in the sport.

In September 2024, the ultrarunning community was shaken by a controversy involving American ultrarunner Camille Herron and her husband and coach, Conor Holt. The couple was accused of editing Wikipedia pages to enhance Herron's achievements while diminishing those of her competitors.

An investigation by Canadian Running revealed that two Wikipedia accounts, "Temporun73" and "Rundbowie," were linked to Herron's email and Holt's IP address. These accounts made numerous edits to Herron's page, amplifying her accomplishments, and altered the pages of fellow ultrarunners, including Courtney Dauwalter and Kilian Jornet, to downplay their achievements. For instance, statements like "widely regarded as one of the best trail runners ever" were removed from competitors' pages, while Herron was described as "widely regarded as one of the greatest ultramarathon runners of all time."

Following the exposure of these activities, Herron's primary sponsor, Lululemon, terminated their partnership with her. In a statement, the company emphasized its commitment to equitable competition and stated, "After careful consideration and conversation, we have decided to end our ambassador partnership with Camille." 

In response to the allegations, Holt took full responsibility, stating, "Camille had nothing to do with this. I'm 100 percent responsible and apologize [to] any athletes affected by this and the wrong I did." He explained that his actions were an attempt to protect Herron from online harassment and bullying that had adversely affected her mental health. 

The incident has sparked widespread discussion within the ultrarunning community, with many expressing disappointment over the unsportsmanlike behavior. Herron, known for her numerous world records and contributions to the sport, now faces challenges in rebuilding trust and credibility within the community.

As the situation unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and sportsmanship in athletics. The ultrarunning community continues to reflect on the implications of this controversy and the lessons to be learned moving forward.