ASA to write a motivational Olympic letter to World Athletics for Elroy Gelant

In 2024, South Africa’s renowned long-distance runner, Gelant, showcased remarkable consistency with four podium finishes.

Despite his stellar performances, Gelant faced disappointment as he failed to secure a spot in the Olympic Games.

His Personal best time of 2:08:56 in Seville, Spain, fell short of the Olympic qualifying mark by a mere 43 seconds (2;08:10).

Even at the Athletics South Africa marathon Championships in Durban, where he clocked 2:09:32, the fastest time by a South African this year, Gelant couldn’t clinch Olympic qualification through the points ranking system.

READ: Stephen Mokoka determined to settle unfinished Olympic business

In the four-team marathon squad, only Stephen Mokoka achieved the automatic qualifying time, leaving him as the only male athlete.

Despite this setback, Gelant continued to excel setting a BP of 27:54 in the Absa Run Your City in Cape Town event, securing second place and once again achieving the fastest time by a South African in the 10km event this year.

He displayed versatility by winning silver in the men’s 5000m at the senior track and field national championships in Pietermaritzburg in April.

In 1996, Josia Thugwane won the South African marathon Championships, however, he failed to qualify for the Olympic Games running the sixth fastest qualifying time and failed to qualify for the Olympics on world rankings Points.

ASA President James Moloi recounted that ASA then wrote an Olympic motivational letter to World Athletics, then known as IAAF – International Association of Athletics Federation.  

He exclusively told SABC Sport: “Gelant is the most consistent athlete in SA currently and deserves his Place in the team. We will fight on his behalf just like the 1996 leaders did for Thugwane, who went on to win the Olympic marathon. Gelant must go to the Games; he has convinced us he should be the SA marathon champion. We will do our level best to make sure that it happens.  He has shown us that he deserves his place on the SA Olympic marathon team.”