ROAD RUNNING

working in athlete development and administration , helping our talented athletes perform at their best .

MA : So , after what has been an incredibly busy ( and successful ) period of racing , are you planning to take some time off ?

EG : I won ’ t take time off , especially if there is still a chance of getting to Paris , but I ’ ll be more selective with my racing schedule and take training a bit easier .

EG : What I can say is that my confidence in my abilities has increased .

MA : At the time of writing , we ’ ve heard that you ’ ve unfortunately not made the Paris Olympic marathon qualification list , but Athletics South Africa is appealing your case . How are you feeling about the situation , both in terms of only just narrowly missing the cut , and the fact that others believe you should be there , and are trying to help you take your spot on the starting line in Paris ?

EG : Although I didn ’ t make the final marathon list , I am grateful for the incredible journey I had while attempting to qualify . I had some outstanding performances in the past few months , and those experiences have kept me positive , despite not making it onto the final list of athletes . But I ’ m staying hopeful that there could be a couple of withdrawals from the list of 80 athletes . I ’ m truly grateful for ASA ’ s efforts to potentially secure a spot for me , and for the support from the national federation . My focus remains on preparing for the Olympics , and I believe that maintaining a positive outlook will lead to a breakthrough .

MA : Let ’ s take a step back … What originally got you started in running ?

EG : When I discovered my ability to run fast and long , I started pursuing it . At the age of nine , I won my first national medal representing my province , South Western Districts , in the SA Cross-country Championships in Witbank . This early success paved the way for me to continue pursuing my God-given talent . During my primary school years , one of my teachers , Mr George De Reuch , played a vital role

Elroy ’ s current form and results belie the fact that he is now 37

in my development as an athlete , keeping us kids active and participating in cross-country events . As a teacher and mentor , he went out of his way to support us , and I will forever be grateful for the foundation he laid .

MA : Tell us about where you grew up and why home is so important to you ?

EG : I grew up in Pacalstdorp near George , and attended Pacaltsdorp Primary School . Our community is full of talented individuals , and I believe it ’ s crucial for the community to have role models to look up to , as they can inspire others to believe that anything is possible through hard work and discipline . Your circumstances do not have to define your future .

MA : Tell us about your life outside of running . What does Elroy do when he is not running ?

EG : I enjoy spending time with my girlfriend , Tamzin Thomas , and we like sightseeing and visiting new places . In addition , I am a full-time lecturer at the North-West University in the School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management . I am also registered for my Masters in Human Resource Management .

MA : What are your goals and ambitions for the future

EG : Personally , I firmly believe that I have what it takes to achieve something remarkable and earn an individual World Championship or Olympic medal , and that would be the ultimate achievement for me . Additionally , I hope to set a positive example of hope and resilience for the younger generation . After that , I have a strong desire to contribute to our sport by

NATIONAL TITLES

2024 Marathon

2017 10,000m 10km Marathon 2016 10km 2013 12km Cross Country

4km Cross Country 2012 10km

12km Cross Country

NATIONAL REPRESENTATION ( 19 )

World Track & Field Indoor Championships

2012 3000m 2014 3000m

World Half Marathon / Road Running Championships

2014 Half Marathon 2018 Half Marathon 2023 Half Marathon

World Cross Country Championships

2013 2017 2023

Africa Cross Country Championships

2012

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