An 81-year-old man from Limpopo, who broke the record as the oldest person to complete the Comrades Marathon, has returned from Durban.
Johannes Mosehla made history when he broke the record set by the legendary runner, Wally Hayward, in the 1989 Comrades.
He was also included in the Comrades Marathon Green Number Club Roll of Honour, after completing ten races.
Mosehla who hails from from Ga-Mogashoa outside Jane Furse in Limpopo broke the 34-year record by completing the 87 kilometre race in nine hours, 26 minutes and 10 seconds.
He received prizes for this achievement.
Mosehla says he feels proud that he made history and adds that this was his tenth Comrades marathon race.
“I am very proud of this achievement, because I was not there to represent myself, but to represent the entire country of South Africa. I would like to thank everyone who was behind me and I would like to thank God, because he made everything possible. Everyone can achieve this if they are committed, because I was very committed.”
Mosehla is calling on all South Africans to participate in various sports, to avoid chronic illnesses.
“People must participate in sports, because sports play an important role to our health and well being. I managed to achieve this because my body is strong and I am always exercising. You can manage to avoid various illnesses by exercising.”
He is a member of the Polokwane Athletics Club.
The club’s executive member, Thabana Mokgohloa, says Mosehla has made a remarkable achievement.
“We are very proud of what Ntate Mosehla has done to Comrades on Sunday, running 87,7 kilometre race at the age of 81. It was his 10th Comrades Marathon and that gives him the green number. We are saying to everybody that everything is possible especially the youth. They must be motivated by what he has done. With his words he says age is just number. So, we are very proud as Polokwane Athletic Club and the running community in general.”
