Tributes pour in for ultra star Ndlela
THE sudden passing of one of South Africa’s most talented ultra marathoners at a training camp in the Drakensberg this past weekend has left the running community and, in particular, his Nedbank Running Club, in shock.
Comrades and Two Oceans gold medallist, Siphiwe Ndlela, was reportedly with five other athletes in the Himeville area when he started feeling unwell. He took some herbal medication, but his condition deteriorated rapidly. Paramedics who were called to assist could not save him, and he passed away at the scene.
At just 28-years-old, he was regarded as being at the start of a promising athletics career and had been tipped as a future Comrades Marathon champion. Ndlela finished 10th at the 2016 Two Oceans Marathon to bag the final gold medal and improved his position to ninth last year in a personal best time of 3hr 17min 06sec. He placed seventh and sixth respectively in the Comrades Marathon in the past two years with a best time of 5:36:56.
Condolences have poured in from across South Africa. Nick Bester, national manager of the Nedbank Running Club said: “Siphiwe was the most promising athlete to become our next Comrades Champion. He was always very appreciative of everything the club did for him.”
Ndlela’s coach Mdu Khumalo said: “Siphiwe was a rising star with so much potential. He was in the form of his life and was going from strength to strength.”
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) described Ndlela as a phenomenal athlete who was not only humble and disciplined, but also inspired runners with his brilliant performances.
“We note the untimely passing of Siphiwe Ndlela with a profound sense of sadness and shock at the tragic loss of a promising young athlete and rising star,” said CMA chairperson, Cheryl Winn. “On behalf of the Comrades Marathon Association, I extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.”
A memorial service will be held in Ixopo next Sunday.