TitleMr.
Name:Josia
Surname:Thugwane
Nationality:RSA  South Africa
Date of Birth:22/04/1971
Function:Athlete
 
Biography:
Josia Thugwane stunned the marathon world in 1996 with his win in the Atlanta Olympic Marathon, becoming in the process, the first black South African ever to win an Olympic Gold, and a hero of his nation. In 1997 Thugwane demonstrated that the Gold Medal was no fluke, taking third at the London Marathon in 2:08:06, then later that year lowering his best (and the South African Record) to 2:07:28 in winning Fukuoka. A 2:10:29, seventh place finish in the 2000 London Marathon and a sixth place finish in the New York City Marathon indicate that he has previous injury problems under control, and can be expected to be a major factor in the coming years. A former soccer player, the 5’ 2" / 99 lbs. Thugwane began running marathons in 1990 (while still only 19) as a way to support his family. He ran more than 50 marathons over the next five years, before realizing that through hard training and a focus on select international events, he could reap much greater rewards. Born in a small town of Bethal, he now lives in Johannesburg with his wife and four children. Essentially uneducated at the time of his 1996 Olympic triumph, Thugwane has hired private tutors, and is tackling his education with same determination as took him to Olympic victory. He has mastered Zulu, his native language, and is quickly becoming proficient in English.
 
Related Database Events:
Olympic Games4/8/1996

         
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