Go to Track and Field Section

Go to Olympics Section

Go to Sports Section

In Long Run, Another Breakthrough Gold

ATLANTA, Aug. 4—South Africa's reemergence in the Olympics reached full fruition this morning when Josia Thugwane became the first black from his country to win a gold medal in the history of the Games by capturing the closest Olympic marathon ever. The green-suited Thugwane, 25, who stands 5 feet 2 and weighs 99 pounds, sprinted ahead in the final mile, then waved his arms in jubilation strides from the finish line inside Olympic Stadium.

Thugwane waited out the tactical 26-mile 385-yard grind through the city and northern suburbs before pulling clear of South Korea's Lee Bong Ju and winning by just three seconds in 2 hours 12 minutes 36 seconds. At times, the tenacious Lee looked as if he would succeed countryman Hwang Yuong Cho, who captured the marathon gold in Barcelona in 1992.

Kenya's Eric Wainaina, 22, who had trained in Japan and was running only his fifth marathon, was a close-enough third in 2:12.44 so that the top three finishers in an Olympic marathon made it onto the stadium track together for the traditional last lap for the first time since 1948 in London.

South Africa was banned from international competition for three decades because of its policy of apartheid, returning to the world sports stage at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. The country had never had a black athlete win an Olympic medal of any kind until Wednesday, when Hezekiel Sepeng took the silver in the 800 meters.

Thugwane's race also completed Africa's marathon sweep, Ethiopia's Fatuma Roba having won the women's race a week ago. Because of Atlanta's summer heat, both marathons began at 7:05 a.m. instead of the traditional 6 p.m. start that brings the runners into a packed stadium just before the Closing Ceremonies. About 20,000 came to the stadium this morning for the sole purpose of seeing the marathon finish.

"What the medal means to me is that our problems are over in our country," he said. "We are free to run and be part of the international community. We are back in the fold."

He dedicated his victory to South African President Nelson Mandela.

"I feel very good about winning this medal for my country and my president," Thugwane said. "I have been training in Albuquerque, which helped me a lot because it is hot—even though it was cooler today than expected."

Thugwane, who works for a mining company, said he considered himself lucky to be here, relating a story of being being hijacked in his car in March.

"This happened in Bethal, where I live," he said. "I was driving to another town. I was stopped by someone asking for a lift but three men jumped into the car and said they were taking the car and the keys. They had a gun and there was a bit of a shooting. I jumped from the car when it was moving. I have had some problems since then—I have a scar on my chin and hurt my back. I thought it may not be possible for me to run again. But my employers gave me the best support possible—they paid for all the treatment."

Thugwane capitalized on his recent good form. He won the South African Marathon in Cape Town earlier this year, and in 1995 won the Honolulu Marathon and finished fifth in the World Half Marathon.

He said he was confident from the start, which took place in light ground fog, high humidity and a temperature in the low seventies.

A pack of about 50 of the 122 starters remained close through more than half the race. After the opening mile, 5-foot-6, 119-pound Lawrence Peu, 30, was the first of three black South Africans to emerge near the front.

Shortly past halfway, Thugwane moved up along with 5-foot-5, 119-pound teammate Gert Thys, 24, to run at the head of the pack with Peu, and the three cruised past 14 miles looking as fresh as possible with the sun beginning to reflect off the tall buildings. A mile later, a confident-looking Lee moved up.

Thugwane surged through more hills leading toward midtown. Lee, having slowed, rallied a mile later to regain second from Wainaina. Thick crowds lined the downtown streets as the three battled evenly past Georgia State. A few blocks later as they passed the state Capitol, Thugwane bolted forward. Again, the two challengers pulled even.

At last, Thugwane drew clear by 10 yards just before passing what is a concrete desert outside Fulton County Stadium, next to Olympic Stadium. Entering the stadium, Thugwane ruled by 15 yards. Coming down the final straightaway, he raised his hands above his head and when he crossed the finish line immediately checked his watch.

The three Americans ran well enough but never threatened. Keith Brantley of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a Florida graduate, finished 28th in 2:18.17. Bob Kempainen of Minneapolis, 17th at Barcelona in 1992 but troubled recently by a leg tendon, was 31st in 2:18.38. Mark Coogan, 30, of Boulder, Colo., and the University of Maryland at runner-up at the 1995 Pan American Games, was 41st in 2:20.36.

The South African sports federation will pay Thugwane 50,000 rand—about $12,000—for winning the gold.

Some of the money will go to help an extended family of parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.