If it's the final Sunday of the Olympic Games then it's time for the men's marathon. Traditionally the final athletic event of any Games, the 26.2 miles is generally more tactical and less fast as opposed to the big city marathons. In theory anyway (marathoners: prove me wrong please. Pretty please?).Don't expect record times tomorrow but count on great racing and the possible emergence of the dark horses/unknowns/unheralded.
Ask South Africa's own Josia Thugwane, who unexpectedly - for some - claimed the Olympic title way back in 1996. That's right, almost exactly twenty years have passed since that magical day in Atlanta. Much has since been written about the decline of SA marathon-ing and rightly so. Richard Mayer's excellent "Three Men Named Mathews" (pictured) encapsulates rise and slide of SA long distance running, well worth the read.
But it is so, so easy to harp on the past, especially when things were fast, great and golden.
Lusapho April, Sibusiso Nzima and Lungile Gongqa are SA's male marathon representatives in Rio on Sunday. They are not exactly "rated" by many but that's not their fault. They have met the selection criteria, are there to represent their country and will no doubt to their best. And it's not they've appeared out of nowhere either.
Ever seen stringy-looking athletes running to and from manual working jobs with backpacks from the comfort of a car? That could be a potential Olympic representative in years to come, just like the sunrise photo shot of the dude running somewhere along Baden Powell Drive near Khayelitsha. Lusapho, Sibusiso, Lungile and even Josia have all done lots and lots "that" in years past in pursuit of making it as elite marathoners.
So let's give these guys the respect and support they're due. After all: if qualifying for the Olympic marathon was easy, every Tom, Dick and "expert" would be doing it.
Shosholoza.
Asseblief.
