Thugwane stole heart of a nation
Ambassador for the Legends race will be in city
TWENTY years ago South Africa won the Rugby World Cup and few who are old enough will forget the moment when Francois Pienaar and Nelson Mandela jointly held the cup. The emotions of 1995 were amazing.
In 1996 South Africa's Bafana Bafana also won the African Cup of Nations and Madiba was again on hand to lead his people in celebration when Neil Tovey lifted that trophy. The then Sports Minister Steve Tshwete, who hailed not far from the route of The Legends Marathon, was also there in jovial mood.
Later in 1996 Josia Thugwane added to the euphoria of the nation when he won the Olympic Marathon in Atlanta and following on came great performances by Penny Heyns and Marianne Kriel in the swimming pool and Hezekiel Sepeng on the track.
Thugwane's performance was the least expected by the nation and only he, the marathon team manager and perchance one or two other's truly believed he had it in him.
Today he will be in East London as ambassador for The Legends 68km race from Bhisho to EL. Thugwane himself concentrated on the half-marathon and 42,2km standard marathon distances, once coming fourth at a World Half-Marathon Championships, something that many pundits overlooked when he was originally chosen for Atlanta. He also won the 1996 South African Marathon Championships in weather conditions only the infamous “Cape Doctor” could throw up.
There have been faster, perhaps more talented, marathon runners than Thugwane, but few were as tough, as focused and as prepared for the bigger occasions.
In the team that went to Atlanta his qualifying time was the slowest out of his two fellow team members, Gert Thys and Xolile Yawa as well as the travelling reserve, Lawrence Peu, but all four ran different marathons, in different climates and weather conditions.
Thugwane's two efforts were in the toughest circumstances, running as he did in the heat and humidity of Honolulu and the most atrocious wind that Cape Town could offer. Back in 1996 it was still possible to be subjective in selection and the selectors bravely and doggedly took advantage of that in the face of some serious criticism.
Thugwane himself was oblivious to this and concentrated on what he knew best – racing.
As it happened Yawa fell out of the team with an injury and returned to South Africa, leaving something of a void as he and Thugwane were close. This meant Peu came in and all of SA would have had the opportunity on that Sunday of the race to see all three South Africans leading the race at one stage.
Thugwane it was who thrilled the nation as he hung on to win one of the closest Olympic Marathon finishes of all time. The Nation was again proud.
What this diminutive marathoner brings in his capacity as ambassador to this event is a legacy of grit, determination and a work ethic that is an example to every runner, regardless of ability or preferred distance.
He is a humble, quietly spoken, but determined man who is a great credit to the sport, to competition and to his country and although Madiba was not in Atlanta he nonetheless inspired the team with a great send-off from his official residence, constant messages to the team and members thereof. And of course Thugwane was invited to meet the great man upon his return. Thugwane in turn had already said: “I did it for my President.”
The youth of the Eastern Cape should be inspired to have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of, perhaps meet and shake the hand of this man who is a legend and an icon. Opportunity sometimes knocks but once.