This is the sweet moment a determined six-year-old girl finishes a marathon while wearing her father's race number after he dropped out due to exhaustion.

The heartwarming footage, captured in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi, China, on Sunday, December 1, shows the girl sprinting in the marathon, surrounded by three adult runners watching over her.

The young girl, wearing sunglasses, a pink top, and bib number 'M0582,' bravely continued the 42-kilometre race, trailed by police cars and ambulances after her dad was too tired to finish.

Her father surnamed Xie, reportedly boarded a rescue vehicle when he fell ill but later returned when officials tried to stop her from running further.

While her spirit sparked admiration, it also ignited controversy, with onlookers questioning how a child could unofficially join such a gruelling marathon.

Officials confirmed the girl did not officially complete the race, and her father was punished for breaching competition rules.

The Wuyuan Marathon's regulations strictly prohibit bib transfers and mandate that only registered participants can compete, raising serious concerns about safety and rule enforcement.

The dad was reportedly fined and banned from participating in the marathon for three years.

He later said he knew what he had done was wrong, but his daughter insisted on running in his place, so he decided to give her his race bib so that staff would ensure her safety throughout the event.

Xie said: 'At the start of the race, my daughter ran alongside me. It was true that she participated without registering because she didn't meet the age requirement for signing up.

'When we reached around the 30-kilometre mark, my daughter suddenly started pushing me.

'I thought she was tired, but later, I realised she thought I was running too slowly and wanted me to speed up.

'At the 38-kilometre mark, I couldn't keep going anymore and had to get on the medical support vehicle, but my daughter chose to continue running.

'In the end, she even overtook a few other participants and crossed the finish line seven minutes before the cut-off time. I was quite surprised—I hadn't expected her to finish the race.'

He added: 'She felt a bit disappointed because her result was disqualified, and she thinks she won't be able to run marathons anymore.

'I could only comfort her, telling her that when she grows up, there will be many more opportunities, and for now, she can still sign up for other races.'