IT HAS been done before, so it is possible. But can it be repeated? Can South Africa win Olympic gold in the men’s marathon?
The immediate and honest answer would be no – and with good reason, too.
After all, what chance do South African marathoners stand against the great Eliud Kipchoge, who is going for a third successive victory at the Games? None would be the answer, right?
Add Kenenisa Bekele to the mix, and our Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant have very little chance of emulating Josiah Thugwane, who was victorious 28 years ago at Atlanta 96.
The marathon, though, is a strange beast of an event where surprises cannot be ruled out. After all, unlike the marathon majors where the fastest usually win, the Olympic marathon is often highly tactical.
Gelant, in particular, is likely to be thinking the omens are somewhat in his favour as he prepares to take part in his second Olympic marathon.
The man from Pacaltsdorp in George finished 34th in Tokyo three years ago, but will line up in Paris on Saturday (8am start) high on confidence after a fantastic season.
Like Thugwane in 1996, Gelant goes into the race as South African champion.
The similarities don’t end there, as the duo did not qualify automatically for the Olympics either.
Thugwane was included in the squad by virtue of being national champion, while Gelant earned his place via his world ranking, following a request by Athletics South Africa that their national champion be allowed to compete.
Not much was expected of Thugwane in 1996, but he produced arguably one of the major shock results ever at the Olympics.
Can Gelant, who has been running personal best times at just about every race and in every distance this year, do the same?
The man dreams of Olympic glory, of course. Why else would he line up in the first place?
“I know I’ve told you top 15 is the goal. But it is not good enough. You want to be on the podium at the Olympics. You want to get a medal, and that’s the objective,” Gelant told Independent Newspapers prior to his departure for Paris, as any self-respecting sportsman should.
“So, it (the dream and goal) is there, and every morning when I train and everything that I do, I am thinking about the Olympic medal.”
The 37-year-old Gelant – who has a personal best of 2:08.56 – will realise that he will have to run out of his socks, just like Thugwane did those many years ago.
Also expected to fly South Africa’s flag high on Saturday is Mokoka, who will be lining up for the Olympic marathon a third time.
A multiple SA champion, the 39-year-old Mokoka qualified automatically for Paris with a fantastic 2:06.42, and is looking to make up for the disappointment of Tokyo, where he failed to finish the race.
Lets do this again shall we? 👀
— Stephen Mokoka (@MokokaSteve) August 5, 2024
T-5 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
📷📷 @Lebohanginnoc14 #TeamSponge#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/REn8wEHhVu
He has done his best to replicate conditions he expects to face on race day to avoid a repeat of Tokyo, where he ran in debilitating humid conditions, having prepared in the cold South African winter.
Such is Mokoka’s desire to do well that he even took on the tough and hilly ultra that is the 56km Two Oceans Marathon.
The day is nearly here, and South African fans are eager to see if their two marathon stars will do them proud on the penultimate day of Paris 2024. Can either of Mokoka or Gelant emulate Thugwane?