Stephen Mokoka hopes to have his family by his side for world record attempt
11th July 2025
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Stephen Mokoka sets his sights on breaking the Masters 10km World Record at the Absa Run Your City race in Durban on Sunday.
The highly anticipated event, which has sold out with over 10,000 participants, will start at Masabalala Yengwa Avenue at 8 am and finish at the Durban Beachfront.
"I have been running for so many years, and even now, there are so many things that I cannot afford to do, but that's the bad luck of being a South African athlete."
The four-time Olympian, who has proudly represented South Africa in both the 42.2km marathon and 10,000m events, told the national broadcaster that being a South African runner comes with immense challenges.
"As we speak, I've got no money to retire with. It's tough to be a South African runner. You devote your entire life to the discipline for not much glory. To represent my country has required so much sacrifice over the years," said Mokoka.
The 40-year-old, who mentors a group of young athletes at Tshwane University of Technology, hopes the next generation of runners won't face the same struggles and setbacks currently endured by those in the sport.
The three-time Cape Town Marathon champion also told SABC Sport that his remarkable two-decade-long career has been sustained by a combination of luck, consistent training, and hard work.
