Irvette Van Zyl pulls out of the Soweto Marathon due to injury

The four-time Olympian had high hopes of securing a fifth title, which comes with a prize of R250,000.

However, her body has taken a toll after completing the Olympic Marathon in Paris in August.

In an interview with SABC Sport, her husband, LJ Van Zyl, the men's national record holder in the 400m hurdles, shared that she is at home, feeling devastated, and resting after the injury.

"So Irvette will not run Soweto to defend her title, she won it five times and she's the record holder. It was a long stretch for her to get ready for the Olympics and she reached there, she picked up a hamstring injury so she hasn't really trained after the Olympics,” Van Zyl said.

“We did cycling, lite jogging but I think also it’s just time for her to have a good rest and prepare for Two Oceans next year. If you look at her career, she's doing hard marathons."

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Van Zyl has arranged for Irvette to participate in swimming events to help her relax and distract her from the stress of missing the Soweto Marathon.

He revealed that she had been struggling with hamstring issues both before and after the Olympics.

"Swimming we will do, just to get a round off then prepare for next year. You cannot load every season, it's impossible, you're gonna kill yourself, so if she's not 100% ready, don't try to do it on the race. Soweto is a brutal marathon as well all know, if you're not 100 percent fit, don't go and she will not go just to go, she will win it or not," Van Zyl added.

Van Zyl shared with the national broadcaster that his wife is heartbroken and cried upon realizing she won't be able to defend her title this year.

He also mentioned that she has informed her sponsors, including the Hollywood Athletics Club, which provides her monthly stipend.

"She did consult with Hollywood and Asics and all her sponsors and they are more than happy for her not to run and prepare for next year. So, they had meetings before that statement and it is what it is."