Meet the 2025 Gobi Dreamers
After receiving a remarkable number of heartfelt applications from all over the world, the 2025 edition of the Gobi Dreamer Program has officially come to an end. Today, we are excited to introduce the five individuals who will take on the Ultra Gobi 400km race this October as Gobi Dreamers—runners selected not only for their passion for endurance but for the power of their stories.
Out of all applicants, twenty were shortlisted by the race committee and jury members. These twenty then went into a final round of voting by Ultra Gobi alumni—those who have completed the 400km race and know exactly what it takes. 162 alumni were invited to vote. We received 76 replies, of which 71 were valid votes. Here are the results:
Zhu Cuiping (China): 35 votes
Sona Kopcokova (Slovakia): 20 votes
Wang Zhiwei (China): 10 votes
Carla André (Portugal): 7 votes
Melissa Venables (UK): 7 votes
The five selected Gobi Dreamers of 2025
Each of them submitted an application that moved us, made us pause, and reminded us why the Gobi Dreamer Program exists: to give passionate runners from around the world a chance to take part in something truly rare.
🏅 Zhu Cuiping (China) – 35 votes
Zhu Cuiping’s connection to Ultra Gobi spans a full decade. She first discovered the sport during her EMBA program in 2014, and just a year later, helped Xiamen University win the Ultra Gobi 121KM TEAM race in extreme heat conditions. Since then, she has returned to the Gobi 19 times—as a runner, crew member, photographer, and volunteer—demonstrating a rare level of commitment to the Ultra Gobi community. Now, at 43, Zhu is ready to take on the 400km challenge she has supported from the sidelines since its inception. Her dream is no longer quiet. It’s a promise.
🏅 Sona Kopcokova (Slovakia) – 20 votes
Sona is a World and European Champion in Bodyfitness, but her most powerful story begins after her career in sports: the adoption of three children, including a daughter with disabilities. She started running during the kids’ naps and eventually broke the speed self-supported record on the 780km SNP trail. Her motivation is clear: “Every step I take in the Gobi, I will think of them.”
🏅 Wang Zhiwei (China) – 10 votes
Wang’s application was a poetic reflection on his relationship with the desert. As a former Ultra Gobi volunteer, a professional in outdoor events, and a rescue volunteer, he understands the event from every perspective. “The greatest challenge is not to defeat nature, but to break through one’s own limits with reverence,” he wrote. His story bridges personal, professional, and spiritual experiences with the Gobi.
🏅 Carla André (Portugal) – 7 votes
Carla survived a serious car accident that nearly left her paralyzed. After months of recovery, she discovered running—and eventually the desert. She has since completed events in some of the world’s most remote and beautiful locations. The 2025 Ultra Gobi will take place exactly 20 years after the accident that changed her life. She wrote, “This race is more than a challenge—it’s a celebration of life.”
🏅 Melissa Venables (UK) – 7 votes
Melissa discovered Ultra Gobi in 2017 and has dreamed of racing it ever since. She is a seasoned ultrarunner, a health nurse working with young people, and someone who wants to inspire women—both young and older—to pursue their dreams. In her words, “I want to be a role model… to show what it’s like to believe in yourself and take a chance.”
Thank You to Everyone Who Applied
The selection process was difficult. We received a large number of heartfelt, courageous, and creative applications from across the globe. Together with a jury from the race committee and former finishers, we shortlisted twenty outstanding candidates. Then, the final decision was handed over to our community of past Gobi finishers. 162 were invited to vote; 76 responded, and 71 valid votes were cast.
To everyone who applied: thank you. It was an honor to read your stories. We wish we could have brought more of you to the desert. Please know that your words left an impact on us.
To our five Gobi Dreamers: the journey begins now. Welcome to Ultra Gobi.
