Plumber Says Tommy Fury Shoved Him at Great North Run; Calls Behaviour 'Not On'

A runner who said he was shoved aside by boxer and reality TV star Tommy Fury as the pair approached the finish line of Sunday’s Great North Run has spoken publicly, calling the incident "not on" and saying it broke normal race etiquette.

Video from the half marathon, which featured nearly 60,000 participants and was cheered by around 200,000 spectators, shows Fury weaving through other runners in a fast sprint to the line and appearing to push a competitor clear of his lane on the final bend.

The man who says he was pushed, plumber Diarmaid Warner, 38, from Dumbarton, told The Sun he had been raising money for muscular dystrophy research when Fury forced his way through. Warner said he felt a hand on his shoulder as he rounded the last corner and was shoved to the side.

"As you get to the end you think the finish line is straight in front of you," Warner said. "It's only at the last few metres you realise you've got one more right turn to make. It was as I was going around it that I felt this hand on my shoulder which pushed me to the side for him to run through. I was a bit upset and thought that's not on – it's not really race etiquette."

Warner, a father of two, said he later recognised who had barged past him and mentioned the incident to his wife. He also issued a light-hearted challenge inviting Fury to a running race, joking that it would not be a boxing match unless Fury had "one hand tied behind his back."

Fury, 26, has not publicly addressed the latest footage. The incident follows earlier episodes that drew online criticism of the former Love Island contestant's behaviour in mass participation events. In January, video showed him narrowly avoiding collision with an elderly runner during a 10-kilometre event, and last month Fury was the subject of scrutiny after data suggested he had not completed the cycling leg of a 100-kilometre triathlon on the French Riviera.

Organisers of the triathlon later said road closures had forced some amateurs to abandon the bike stage, and noted Fury completed the run and crossed the line. Fury has increasingly taken part in endurance events and become known for late, high-speed sprints that have attracted attention on social media.

The Great North Run itself drew headlines unrelated to the sprint incident after organisers apologised for an error on finisher medals and T-shirts that featured a map of the River Wear in Sunderland rather than Newcastle. Organisers issued a light-hearted statement about the mistake; the sprint footage nonetheless ensured focus returned to the conduct of individual participants.

Race etiquette typically discourages physical contact and requires overtaking runners to do so safely; other competitors and members of the public reacted on social media after the video surfaced. Warner said there was no excuse for barging through and reiterated that runners ordinarily "weave your way around" slower participants rather than pushing them out of the way.

The Great North Run is a well-established 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields. Organisers did not immediately comment on the specific shoving allegation when asked. Fury’s recent appearances at mass-participation events continue to draw scrutiny, and the latest footage is likely to prompt renewed discussion about safety and etiquette at large races.