South African marathon and ultra-marathon legend Bruce Fordyce is renowned for his record of nine South African Comrades Marathon victories, eight of which were achieved consecutively—a feat that remains etched in the memories of South Africans. He is also a brilliant storyteller, erudite, self-deprecating, humble, and extremely funny.
Born in Hong Kong in 1955, Fordyce moved to Johannesburg with his family at the age of 13. He attended Woodmead High School and later the University of the Witwatersrand, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977 and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979. In recognition of his contributions, the University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1997.
Fordyce first ran the Comrades Marathon in 1977, finishing 43rd out of 1,678 participants. Over the years, he climbed the ranks to dominate the event, winning an unprecedented eight consecutive races from 1981 to 1988 and claiming another victory in 1990. No other runner has matched this achievement. Fordyce also set records for both the "up" (Durban to Pietermaritzburg) and "down" (Pietermaritzburg to Durban) runs. His 1986 "down" run record of 5:24:07 stood for 21 years until it was broken in 2007 by Russia's Leonid Shvetsov.
Fordyce’s first victory in 1981 was particularly notable and courageous. An outspoken critic of Apartheid, he initially joined other athletes in boycotting the race, which organizers had associated with the 20th anniversary of the Republic of South Africa. Ultimately, Fordyce chose to run, wearing a black armband in protest. Despite facing boos and even rotten tomatoes from sections of the crowd, he delivered a stunning performance, winning in 5:37:28—nearly 10 minutes ahead of the runner-up, Johnny Halberstadt.
Fordyce’s success and determination helped elevate the Comrades Marathon into a beloved national tradition. By the end of the 1980s, with Fordyce firmly entrenched in the public’s imagination, race entries surged from under 4,000 in 1980 to over 10,000 participants. Cheering on runners along the route became a cherished custom, cementing the event's place in South African culture.
Languages: English
Country: South Africa
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