MATSHELANE MAMABOLO
SOUTH Africa’s reigning marathon champions lived up to their status with gutsy displays at the Paris 2024 Olympics at the weekend, although the results were not really something to shout home about.
Elroy Gelant and Cian Oldknow shone brightest in the men’s and women’s races with Gelant narrowly missing out on a top-10 finish by coming in 11th, while Oldknow crossed the finish line in 32nd place.
Oldknow, a debutant at the Games and a marathon newbie having only completed two official races before yesterday’s race, did well to finish finish ahead of the seasoned Gerda Steyn and Irvette van Zyl on Sunday.
Steyn, expected by many to challenge for a top-10 finish, crossed the finish line in a disappointing 45th place, while Van Zyl finally completed the Olympic marathon, at the fourth time of asking, finishing in 37th place.
The women’s race was won by the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan for her third medal of the Games, after she took home bronze from both the 5000m and 10 000m.
South Africa’s representatives in the men’s race made an impressive improvement on their showing from Tokyo three years ago.
Gelant finished with a time of 2:09:10 to realise his objective of a top-15 finish. Stephen Mokoka was 27th in 2:10:59 to make up for the disappointment of the previous Games where he failed to complete the race.
Speaking after her debut, a delighted Oldnknow said: “It was a really hard route out there. I was feeling good most of the way but the hills are definitely tough and those last legs I had to ‘vasbyt’.
“My legs were on fire, saw a few girls go past me in the last little bit and I had to hang on, and I’m really glad I managed to. I am really happy with my time, happy with my position and it was a very amazing experience.”
Van Zyl’s happiness knew no bounds.
“Yes, I finished!” she shouted after she reached the finish line.
“It’s fourth time lucky. It took me 12 years but I am super happy. I am just happy to have finished and I can call myself an Olympic finisher.”
Steyn was just happy to have represented the country: “It’s such an honour to wear the green and gold knowing that you carry the entire country on your shoulders. I dedicated my run to everyone at home who supports me and I see you and I appreciate it.”
Meanwhile, Gelant said he was now looking to do better at next year’s World Championships in Tokyo.
“It was one of my best marathons and there is a lot to come,” Gelant said after the race in which he ran shoulder to shoulder with the great Eliud Kipchoge, who failed to finish due to a hip injury.
“The World Champs need to be a goal, to say let’s chase for top eight or a top-five (finish).
“I will put in a lot of efforts for the World Championships next year. My goal was a top- 15 (finish). I am pleased with my performance.
”I could have done better, but from the last Olympics where I finished 34th, this is a massive confidence booster. Top 20 in the world is definitely something I can work on. This is just building blocks.”
Mokoka was also happy with his performance, saying“the minimum goals was to finish because the previous one I did not finish and I finished in a 2:10”.