Join us now in Celebrating all the winners of 2024
COMRADES NEWS
All the winners at the 2024 GEMS Spirit of Comrades Awards
Celebrating the
Comrades Spirit
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The Comrades Marathon Association( CMA) proudly hosted the annual GEMS Spirit of Comrades Awards Gala, in partnership with the Government Employee Medical Scheme( GEMS) last October. This prestigious event, held in Durban, celebrates the exceptional qualities of selflessness, dedication, perseverance and Ubuntu that define the spirit of the world’ s biggest, oldest and most famous ultramarathon, the Comrades Marathon.
Each year since 1996, the Spirit of Comrades Awards have honoured three remarkable individuals not only for their achievements in the race, but also for the embodiment of their noble values associated with The Ultimate Human Race. The selection process for these awards is rigorous, with scores of nominations received from Comrades Marathon participants, supporters and the general public. The CMA’ s Heritage and Traditions Committee carefully adjudicates these nominations, emphasising acts of service, sacrifice, courage, and perseverance, and then final recommendations are approved by the CMA Board.
The three GEMS Spirit of Comrades recipients are awarded a one-ounce, 24 carat pure gold medallion. More than that, the award is a very notable recognition of someone who embodies the Comrades spirit and inspires others to be selfless and showcase the inherent values of goodness in humanity. The awards ceremony also features awards for the CMA’ s Journalist of the Year and Top Charity Fundraiser of the Year, as well as the CMA Chairperson’ s Award and Green Name Recognition for long-standing servants or partners of the event.
Dr Vuyo Gqola, Chief Operations Officer at GEMS, expressed the Scheme’ s commitment, saying,“ GEMS is proud to partner with the Comrades Marathon Association in celebrating the Spirit of Comrades. This partnership aligns with our mission to promote health and wellness, and embodies our commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, can pursue their dreams.”
Join us now in Celebrating all the winners of 2024
CMA SPIRIT OF COMRADES AWARD
Klaus Neumann
Klaus entered, and completed, his first Comrades Marathon in 1993. Since then, he has earned 28 medals, ranging from Bill Rowans to Bronzes and Vic Claphams. He is currently the Comrades Brand Ambassador for Germany, and while participating in races in many areas of Germany and its neighbouring countries, he has continuously promoted the Comrades Marathon and encouraged his fellow countrymen and women to make the trip to South Africa, to experience the excitement of the Comrades and hospitality of the South Africans along the race route.
He has been an enthusiastic tour host on the International Bus Tour for 13 years, and earned his Green Name, in recognition thereof, in 2019. His detailed knowledge of the race, and the race route, gained over many years, has proved highly beneficial to novice runners, specifically those on the German-speaking bus.
He has been a massive supporter of the Comrades Marathon over a lengthy period, consistently demonstrating his passion and love for the race. On the odd occasion when he hasn’ t made it to the finish line, you would be inclined to think, from his effervescent enthusiasm, that he was, indeed, the race winner.
Klaus says,“ Running is my life, and running the Comrades is the icing on the cake. The annual pilgrimage to Durban, meeting with my running friends, the atmosphere at the start, Shosholoza, the great support along the route by enthusiastic spectators, the camaraderie among the runners, the vibe at the finish line … I am very happy to be part of it, and I hope this will last for many more years.”
Images: Paul Henman