Stephen Mokoka transitions to long-distance running full-time

Despite his impressive track record, which includes securing the SA 5000m and 10 000m titles during his prime, Mokoka acknowledges that age has caught up with him, making it difficult to compete with the younger generation on the track.

At 38 years old, this two-time Olympian has already secured a spot in the marathon event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Fresh from an impressive second-place finish at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, where he completed the race in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 30 seconds, Mokoka stands as a beacon of hope in South African long-distance running.

“I won’t return to track and field events: I’m getting older. My focus is now on longer distances. With age, one gains more strength for endurance races. I believe I have a greater opportunity to make my country proud in long-distance events rather than the shorter ones. I’m thoroughly enjoying the marathon and putting in the effort to address my weakness,” he shares with SABC Sport.

Mokoka asserts that he has no intentions of retiring from the sport: he plans to keep running until his legs can longer support him.

“As I mentioned earlier, my commitment to running remains steadfast, and I’ll continue running until circumstances dictate otherwise. I’ve seen a 42-year-old friend of mine continue in this pursuit, and I’m convinced that I still have a significant journey ahead, with hopes of maintaining this momentum until I’m around 45, of course, contingent on my health and fitness. I believe I can make substantial contributions to the sport, particularly at the world championships and the Olympic Games. Our training group, under the guidance of Coach Michael Seme is truly remarkable,” Mokoka Added.