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IOL News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Gerda Steyn's love for the Comrades shines through in her latest victory
Gerda Steyn has now won three consecutive Comrades after her latest victory this past Sunday. | Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media Gerda Steyn is hoping to extend her Comrades Marathon love affair as long as her body allows it, fans of the darling of SA road running – and the Ultimate Human Race in particular – will be delighted to hear. Her love for the Comrades was evident once again as the 'Smiling Assassin' sprinkled her infectious fairy dust all along the route on her way to a third title in a row in Sunday's down run. It was definitely reciprocated at the finish line on the streets outside People's Park in Durban. The chants of "Gerda! Gerda! Gerda!" grew ever louder as the diminutive road running star drew closer to the finish. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The cheers that greeted her when she breasted the tape in the 98th edition of the race were arguably among the loudest on the day, with hundreds of delirious well-wishers banging on the advertising hoardings lining the finish in a celebratory cacophony. Gerda responded by waving at her adoring fans, the ever-present smile lighting up her face despite being in obvious pain. She had to dig deep at the end of the race, but pulled through in typical fashion, carried to victory by the raucous support. 'It was an amazing feeling so close to the finish line,' she told Independent Media, after the race. "You've run for many, many hours and trained for many, many months and then finally to get to the finishing straight knowing that you're going to break the tape, is a moment that's difficult to explain in words." Steyn made her observations as a special guest of detergent brand OMO's Stay Unbeatable campaign. 'This race stands out for me even more above the other Comrades that I've done. Every year it just feels like it gets bigger and more special and it creeps even deeper under my skin.' The 35-year-old Steyn crossed the finish line in 5:51:10, to bag her fourth title, following her maiden victory back in 2019. Russia's Alexandra Morozova, a former winner, finished in second (5:55:56). Fellow South African Tete Dijana won the men's race. With the job done for another year, SA's ultramarathon queen is looking forward to putting her feet up. 'When it comes to my diet, I have to be strict and particular when I'm training and before a race as well. So, I definitely look forward to treating myself a little bit after the race. 'If there's two items that stand out for me, what I'm looking forward to the most, perhaps a glass of red wine and a big ice cream,' she revealed. 'Normally the dust settles after about a week and after that I will definitely be enjoying a nice break both for the body and for the mind. I plan to spend it with friends and family and just relax and get strong for the next challenge.' Steyn revealed she is hoping to run another marathon at the end of the year, while being wary of overextending herself. Gerda Steyn added to her growing Comrades domination on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers 'It is always tempting because there's so many amazing races around the country and around the world. So, it's difficult to say no to many races – I love racing – but for me I've seen in the past it works really well if I plan my racing calendar with about three races a year,' she said. 'I'm hoping to run the Soweto Marathon because I've never done that before.' None of the races will ever take the place of the Ultimate Human Race in Gerda's heart, however. 'Comrades, to me, means so much more than a race. It's where I found my passion for running and my passion in life as well.
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Dijana declares himself the true Down Run champion
Tete Dijana won the men's race in the Comrades on Sunday. Photo: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media "Indeed, I am a real Down Run champion!" There was an uncharacteristically cocky air about Tete Dijana late Sunday morning, deep within the bowels of the Moses Mabhida Stadium, as he addressed the post-race media conference. Responding to some questions with monosyllabic answers, and with his face cupped in his hands as he sat at the head table, he gave the impression of someone who would rather have been elsewhere. But make no mistake — Dijana was right where he wanted to be: in the spotlight, the centre of attention, basking in the glory of a Comrades Marathon victory that settled more than a few scores. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ First, he comfortably beat his Nedbank Running Club teammate Piet Wiersma — the Dutchman who had given him a major scare two years ago during the Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Second, he made up for last year's nightmare run, which saw him plagued by dizziness and cramps, ultimately finishing outside the top 10 and missing out on a third successive Comrades crown. Wiersma, the 2023 Up Run winner, was tipped by many as the stronger contender heading into this year's race. But Dijana, ever determined, proved his supremacy on the Down Run. 'I came prepared,' he said. 'I made sure Piet worked hard. I made some surges and moves so I could be comfortable. In the last 10 kilometres he was closing in, so I accelerated a little and that gap opened up.' He said to expect the unexpected 😏 Tete Dijana puts the struggles of 2024 behind him with an emphatic win 👇 📺 Stream #Comrades2025 on DStv: — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) June 8, 2025 Dijana clocked 5:25:28 — just five seconds ahead of Wiersma — although the margin of victory felt more comfortable than in 2022, when he won by only three seconds. When asked how it felt to cross the finish line first, his initial reply was simple: 'Unexplainable.' But with a bit more probing, he opened up. 'I was so excited and also emotional, because I remembered what happened last year when I was in my best shape — but the devil came,' he said, referencing his inexplicable 2023 struggles, which also affected his training group, affectionately known as The Happy Bunch. 'I'm happy that the devil did not attack me this year.' Instead, Dijana attacked the race. Alongside Wiersma and Edward Mothibi, he launched a late charge that overhauled Onalenna Khonkhobe, who had led from the start until just 18 kilometres from the finish. Dijana said the support from fans inspired him to run with renewed purpose. 'I'd been getting pressure from social media — my fans were saying, 'Don't let it go again.' They used the word again. I had to fix everything, because those people — when I was down last year, emotionally and physically — lifted my spirits.' 'When I was training, I told myself I wasn't going to run for me, I was going to run for them.' And run for them he did. Their cheers echoed through the stadium as he crossed the finish line, completing a hat-trick of Down Run victories following his triumphs in 2022 and 2023. He is, indeed, a true Down Run champion.
