Olympic hero worried about the decline of marathon runners in SA

While East African countries Kenya and Ethiopia excel on the international stage, SA runners are struggling in the long-distance events.

“Our athletes do not train as a group. There is no proper development, and the foreigners do as they please in SA because there is no competition from the local runners. They run for money and are not worried about the fast times. The clubs force most of the runners to run the Comrades Marathon. I see too many slow times in this country. After four years of running the ultra-marathon, our runners cannot do it anymore. It will take many years before we can see a runner that can come after me, and maybe I will have died when that time comes,” said Thugwane.

Thugwane won a gold medal in the 42.2km Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA, in 1996, and his biggest wish is to see a runner emulate him.

The 51-year-old believes it would not happen during his lifetime for several reasons though.

Thugwane perfected his running skills while he worked at a mine in the early 90s.

But he says that the mines nowadays are only concerned with production and not the development of workers.

“The clubs such as Nedbank Running Club came into the sport and changed these things. Some of the clubs have too many foreign runners in their stable. The federation should work with retired runners like me, but it is not happening. The only athlete that I am impressed with is Stephen Mokoka, he is trying his best, while the rest are too average,” he explained.

It has been 27 years since SA won a gold medal at the highest level.

He told SABC Sport that he closed down his coaching academy due to lack of finances.

He used to train youngsters over the long-distance event for several years.

“I looked for help but could not find it. I struggle to feed myself and cannot do it for others. I sold the bus to survive," added Thugwane.

“I live from hand to mouth. I sold my 22-seater bus recently used for transporting the runners. It is difficult to survive because I am not working,” he concluded.  

By Charles Baloy