South Africans dominate at 2026 Comrades Marathon

by Chumasande Matiwane

This year’s Comrades Marathon set off at 5am on Sunday with a field of over 21,000 runners ready to take over the world’s oldest and largest ultramarathon, passing under the arch in a blur of lights and colour to the spine-tingling notes of ‘Chariots of Fire.’

Also see: 2026 Comrades Marathon: Everything you need to know

The Comrades Marathon is an 86-kilometre point-to-point course running between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The race uniquely alternates its directions each year, either travelling ‘down’ or ‘up,’ and this was an up year. This year’s 99th edition of the race has record-breaking results.

2026 Comrades Marathon winners

George Kusche

The ‘up run’ record that stood for over 18 years was smashed on the men’s side, and it was South Africa’s very own George Kusche who obliterated it. A dominant performance from George Kusche saw a new record set in the ‘up run’ direction of the race, completing it in 5:15:56, which was a clean complete record.

The men’s race had many early front-runners who either abandoned or dropped back through the ranks, and this helped Kusche pace his race to perfection and eventually win it.

This year’s 2026 Comrades Marathon Men’s Results stand as follows: George Kusche took first place with a time of 5:15:56, with Piet Wiersma from the Netherlands finishing behind George with a time of 5:19:36, and another South African, Mbuti Mollo, secured 3rd place with a time of 5:21:31.

Also see: 5 minutes with 2019 Comrades Marathon winner Edward Omphemetse Mothibi

Gerta Steyn

Gerta finished and secured a historic fifth title, breaking her own record, again with a time of 5:44:53.

Steyn, who conquered the 85.777km route, retained her Comrades Marathon title, winning for a historic fourth consecutive year. Speaking to the press after her win, Steyn said, “Honestly, it means the world to me [to have five wins]. I put every ounce of myself into this, preparing for the race and being ready and healthy on the start line. Then to reap the rewards, it’s a feeling that I can’t describe.”

Zimbabwe’s Nobukhosi Tshuma managed to score a finished second with just eight minutes behind our girl Gerta, while another South African, Irvette van Zyl, held on to secure the final podium spot.

Also see: Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn come out on top of the Comrades Marathon podium

Featured image: Gettys

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