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Comrades Marathon
Quote: Tete Dijana, 2025 Comrades Marathon Mens’ Champion

Quote: Tete Dijana, 2025 Comrades Marathon Mens’ Champion

“If you failed, you must stand up and fight again.” – Tete Dijana, 2025 Comrades Marathon Mens’ Champion

Tete Dijana’s triumph at the 2025 Comrades Marathon is the latest chapter in a story defined by resilience, redemption, and an unwavering fighting spirit. His words—”If you failed, you must stand up and fight again”—reflect both his personal journey and the demands of the world’s most storied ultramarathon.

From Glory to Setback

Dijana, hailing from Mahikeng, had already achieved greatness with back-to-back Comrades victories in 2022 and 2023. He was the reigning “down run” record-holder and a standard-bearer for South African ultrarunning. However, the 2024 race dealt him a humbling setback: after his historic achievements, he finished outside the top ranks, placing 14th, while Dutch rival Piet Wiersma claimed the title.

The Road to Redemption

For many, such a fall from the pinnacle could have marked the end of a winning chapter. But for Dijana, the disappointment of 2024 became a powerful motivator. Determined to reclaim his place among the legends, he committed himself to a renewed cycle of preparation—physically, mentally, and emotionally. He understood that failure is not a verdict, but an invitation to resilience.

Fighting Again: The 2025 Race

The 2025 Comrades Marathon, stretching nearly 90 kilometers from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, demanded everything from its contenders. Dijana faced formidable competition, not least from Wiersma, who was aiming to defend his crown. Running in the green of Nedbank Athletics Club, Dijana timed his race to perfection. With about 16 kilometers remaining, he surged into the lead. Every step forward was a testament to the power of persistence.

In the end, Dijana crossed the line in 5:25:28—a full hat-trick of Comrades victories and a dramatic five-second margin over Wiersma, echoing some of the most dramatic finishes in the race’s history. The result was not just a personal victory, but a celebration for the Mahikeng community that stood by him throughout his journey.

The Deeper Lesson

Dijana’s quote captures a truth forged on the roads of the Comrades: “If you failed, you must stand up and fight again.” It’s a mindset that elevates champions beyond their wins, inviting all who face setbacks—whether in sport, business, or life—to find courage in adversity. His journey resonates as a reminder: greatness is not born from unbroken success, but from the courage to rise, time and again, after falling.

Through his example, Tete Dijana embodies the spirit of tenacity—the relentless drive to stand up, to fight back, and to turn defeat into the foundation of future triumphs.

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Quote: Gerda Steyn, 2025 Comrades Marathon Womens’ Champion

Quote: Gerda Steyn, 2025 Comrades Marathon Womens’ Champion

“You can throw anything at your body, as long as you prepare for it and you train hard. It’s your mind that you need to conquer.” — Gerda Steyn, 2025 Comrades Marathon Womens’ Champion

Gerda Steyn stands as one of the most accomplished and inspiring figures in ultramarathon history, having secured her fourth Comrades Marathon title in 2025—a feat that cements her legacy as South Africa’s “Queen of Marathon Running” and makes her only the third woman in history to claim four or more victories at the storied event.

Her journey is a testament to relentless preparation, tactical brilliance, and above all, the power of mental fortitude. The Comrades Marathon, often touted as the “Ultimate Human Race,” is an iconic challenge that tests the limits of both body and spirit. For Steyn, victory at this level requires more than peak physical conditioning; it demands mastery over one’s mind.

From Preparation to Historic Dominance

Steyn’s 2025 triumph was more than just another win. Crossing the finish line in 5:51:19, she captured her third consecutive Comrades title and became a symbol of sustained excellence. Her rise reached a new zenith in 2023, when she obliterated the Comrades Down Run record with a time of 5:44:54, becoming only the fourth woman ever to complete the race in under six hours—a pace that left spectators in awe.

Behind these numbers lies a story of methodical preparation. Steyn is renowned for her disciplined approach to training and her willingness to push the boundaries of endurance. She exemplifies the philosophy that the body can be trained to withstand almost anything—a truth she underscores in her quote: “You can throw anything at your body, as long as you prepare for it and you train hard. It’s your mind that you need to conquer.”

Conquering the Mind

Steyn’s insight speaks to a deeper truth about peak performance—an understanding shared by the sport’s greatest champions. Physical capacity can be continually extended through rigorous and innovative training, but the true battle is fought within. It is the mind that determines whether an athlete can rise above pain, fatigue, and adversity when the stakes are highest.

Her victories are not just the result of outpacing her rivals; they reflect her unique ability to adapt, to endure, and to remain resilient in the most grueling conditions. Steyn’s commitment to mental strength as the ultimate differentiator is born from experience, forged in the crucible of ultramarathons where every runner faces moments of self-doubt and exhaustion.

The Ultimate Human Race as a Personal Journey

For Steyn, the Comrades Marathon has become more than a competition—it is a personal odyssey of growth and self-discovery, shaping her not only as an athlete but also as a person. Her continued dominance over multiple years reveals a philosophy that goes beyond “doing your best.” It is a mindset of continually seeking new frontiers for performance, not being satisfied with current limits, and—most importantly—cultivating the mental resilience to conquer them.

Gerda Steyn’s achievements and her perspective on conquering the mind serve as inspiration far beyond the world of running, illustrating the limitless potential that can be unlocked when preparation meets unwavering mental resolve.

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Quote: Piet Wiersma 2024 Comrades Marathon Mens’ Champion

Quote: Piet Wiersma 2024 Comrades Marathon Mens’ Champion

“I promise to run the best race of my life.” — Piet Wiersma, 2024 Comrades Marathon Mens’ Champion

In the world of ultramarathon running, few events command the respect and awe of the Comrades Marathon – an iconic South African race known as “The Ultimate Human Race.” The 2024 edition of this prestigious event saw Dutch athlete Piet Wiersma make history by becoming the first international winner since 2011, breaking a long streak of South African dominance.

The Rise of an Ultramarathon Champion

Piet Wiersma’s journey to Comrades glory wasn’t instantaneous. His 2024 victory represented the culmination of years of dedication and strategic improvement. In 2023, Wiersma finished second in his maiden Comrades Marathon attempt, displaying tremendous potential but falling just short of victory. Rather than being discouraged, this near-miss fueled his determination to return stronger.

What makes Wiersma’s achievement remarkable is his methodical approach to transcending his previous limitations. After his 2023 second-place finish, Wiersma completely reimagined his training regimen. “I trained very different,” he revealed in post-race interviews, highlighting a crucial mindset that separates champions from competitors.

Transformation Through Commitment

The pivotal difference in Wiersma’s preparation for 2024 involved unprecedented commitment to systematic improvement:

  • He attended a training camp for the first time in five years
  • He trained at altitude for the first time in his life
  • He dedicated six full weeks to uninterrupted, full-time training
  • He spent an additional two weeks acclimatizing in Pretoria before the race

This comprehensive approach demonstrates how Wiersma moved beyond the concept of “doing my best” with existing methods. Instead, he systematically identified new pathways to performance that he had never explored before.

The Champion’s Mindset

What truly distinguishes champions like Wiersma is their refusal to be constrained by past limitations. When he stated, “I promise to run the best race of my life,” he wasn’t merely committing to maximum effort within familiar boundaries. He was declaring his intention to redefine what was possible for himself through innovation and unprecedented preparation.

This mindset represents a profound shift from viewing “my best” as a fixed ceiling to seeing it as an ever-rising threshold. Before the 2024 race, Wiersma expressed extraordinary confidence: “I knew I was in the best shape of my life,” he said after his victory. This wasn’t mere bravado but the justified confidence of someone who had methodically expanded his capabilities.

The Legacy Continues

Wiersma’s triumph made him the 12th non-South African man to win the Comrades Marathon, marking the 18th time the race has been won by an international athlete. His victory represents more than personal achievement—it’s a testament to the power of strategic innovation in athletic performance.

In 2025, the narrative continued as South Africa’s Tete Dijana reclaimed the title, winning his third Comrades Marathon with Wiersma finishing a close second, just five seconds behind—echoing his 2023 result. This ongoing rivalry exemplifies how elite athletes constantly push each other to transcend previous limitations.

The story of Piet Wiersma reminds us that breakthrough performance rarely comes from simply trying harder within established patterns. True excellence demands the courage to experiment with new approaches, embrace unfamiliar challenges, and systematically expand the boundaries of what we believe possible.

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Global Advisors | Quantified Strategy Consulting