Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013 | Page 16
Living Legend
Humble Hero
In 1996, Josiah Thugwane became the first black South African to win an Olympic gold
medal, and a year later he set a new SA marathon record. Remembered as much for his
humility and rags to riches story as his running feats, he is considered by many to be a
South African icon. – BY SEAN FALCONER
Images: Courtesy Josiah Thugwane
It was also the first Olympic gold medal won by a black
South African, and Josiah found himself the toast of the
nation, but he readily admits that national pride was not
his main motivation. “I was earning R480 a month on the
mines and my family was staying in a shack. The South
African government had offered a R150 000 incentive for
a gold, so I put everything into my training to get that
money for my family. As I entered the stadium, I knew
I had won it. R150 000 was so much money for running
a 2:12!”
LIFE-CHANGER
Ironically, Josiah was almost left out of the 1996 Olympic
team, having already narrowly missed out on selection
for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Marathon. “I was fourth
on the list in 1992 and only the first three went. Then in
1995, I won the Honoloulu Marathon, but it was hot, hot,
hot… I ran 2:15 and missed the 2:14 qualifying standard.
Then at SA Champs I ran 2:12, but that was still not fast
enough, because Lawrence Peu, Xolile Yawa, Gert Thys
and Willie Mtolo had all run 2:10 or faster.”
Fortunately for Josiah, as SA Champ he was still selected
for the Atlanta team… and the rest is history. His win in
Atlanta catapulted him to super-stardom and with the
help of his mentor and coach Jacques Malan, he learnt
As the other two looked sideways for their last water
bottles, the South African opened a small gap, which was
just enough to take the win by three seconds in 2:12:36.
to speak English so that he could communicate with the
media and with race organisers around the world. “The
Japanese invited me to run the Fukuoka Marathon in
December 1996, but there was too much snow – I was
still freezing at 16km and decided to stop. I told them to
invite me back, to try again, and they said OK.” And so
in 1997, after finishing third in the London Marathon in
2:08:06, Josiah returned to Japan and won in 2:07:28,
shattering Zithulele Sinque’s 1986 SA Record of 2:08:04.
Only three other South Africans have gone faster than
Josiah since then.
Unfortunately, his sudden increase in fame also led to
people hounding him for money. The unwanted attention
also brought back unpleasant memories of being carjacked and shot just five months before the Atlanta
Games, with the bullet grazing his chin as he leapt from
the moving vehicle. “People were always asking about
money! I had bought a house in Mpumalanga, but didn’t
feel my family was safe there, so we moved to Joburg.”
Today, Josiah and his wife Zodwa live on a farm near
Bronkhorstspruit, with their children Zandile (19), Thandi
(16) and Lucky (12).
“
ew South Africans who watched will ever forget
the 1996 men’s Olympic Marathon in Atlanta, when the
South African trio of Lawrence Peu, Gert Thys and Josiah
Thugwane moved to the front at 24km and surged to break
up the lead group of 60 runners. By 35km, it was down to
a three-way fight between Josiah, South Korea’s
Lee Bong-Ju and Eric Wainaina of Kenya. Then with two
kays to go, Josiah made his move. As the other two looked
sideways for their last water bottles, the South African
opened a small gap, which was just enough to take the win
by three seconds in 2:12:36. It was the closest finish in
Olympic Marathon history.
“
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