Louis Massyn makes history with record 50th Comrades Marathon finish
INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT Louis Massyn (right) became the first person to complete the Comrades Marathon 50 times, finishing the 89.98km race at age 74 in 11 hours, 53 minutes, and 14 seconds, in Durban, on Sunday. Picture: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Media
Anyone who has finished the Comrades Marathon will tell you what an incredible feat it is to make it to the finish line, and in Louis Massyn's case his efforts are nothing short of super-human as successfully earned his 50th medal at the gruelling ultra marathon on Sunday.
The 74-year-old made his way over the finish line in 11 hours 53 minutes and 14 seconds in the 89.98km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Making it with just over six minutes before the 12-hour cut-off, Massyn is now the first person to complete the race 50 times.
He was assisted by much younger runners on either side of him as he was hunched over and battling to keep his balance, when he was caught on camera at the finish line.
Having entered his first Comrades in 1973, the only years he didn't compete were in 2020 and 2021 when there was no race due to the Covid pandemic. He also missed out in 2022 when he did not make it to the start line due to a knee injury.
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Missing Comrades runner found in Durban
Race director Alain Dalais said Moira Harding had walked eight kilometres from the finish. The finish line of the Comrades Marathon in Durban. Picture: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images A missing woman has been found after seemingly vanishing on Sunday, following the Comrades Marathon ultra-distance race. Moira Harding, a runner from Cape Town, completed the 90km race in 10:52:03 on Sunday afternoon. After reaching the finish in a delirious state, however, Harding had started walking through the streets of Durban and became lost. Comrades Marathon race director Alain Dalais said a search party had looked for her into the early hours of the morning, and she was eventually found more than 12 hours after she had finished the race. Wondered for eight kilometres 'A search party was formed and we looked everywhere we could, but she had walked eight kilometres from the finish venue, which is why it took so long to find her,' Dalais said. 'She was in a delirious state, but she is safe and we are relieved she is ok.' Meanwhile, Dalais confirmed no runners had died during the 98th running of the annual race. 'One runner suffered cardiac arrest and was airlifted to hospital, but we have received confirmation that they are stable, which is another great relief for us as the organisers of the race.'
