When Josia Thugwane came to the end of briefly narrating his inspirational Olympic story, there was barely a dry eye in the room.
His remarkable feat of overcoming the odds to win a marathon gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 24 years ago remains one of the proudest sporting moments for SA.
He stunned the sporting world on that unforgettable day of August 4 1996 to become the first black South African to win the gold medal after he outran South Korea’s Lee Bong-Ju and Kenya’s Eric Wainaina in the final stretch.
But his inspirational story is not known, mainly by the youth who are in desperate need of role models; he is somewhat under-celebrated and he is a forgotten hero.
For the better part of the past two decades, since the euphoria of his groundbreaking Atlanta win subsided, Thugwane has lived in relative anonymity in his hometown of Bronkhorstspruit in Mpumalanga.
But he was dragged back into the limelight last week as an ambassador of Bridgestone for their Chase Your Dream campaign, together with double 800m Olympic Caster Semenya and Olympic rowing silver medalist Lawrance Brittain.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, which is aimed at encouraging people to chase their dreams in the build-up to the 2020 Olympics, Thugwane said he haboured no hard feelings that most people may have forgotten him.
To be honest it’s a long time ago and maybe that’s why the young ones don’t know me or the older ones have forgotten about me. But it is not a problem for me, life goes on.
“I don’t have a problem that maybe people don’t recognise me anymore,” he said in a soft voice.
“It happens once in a while where I will hear people saying that there is Josia Thugwane when I am minding my own business on the streets, especially in places other than where I come from.
“I think is mostly youth because they don’t know what happened 24 years ago. To be honest it’s a long time ago and maybe that’s why the young ones don’t know me or the older ones have forgotten about me. But it is not a problem for me, life goes on.”
In January, the country’s first black world boxing champion, Peter “Terror” Mathebula, died largely unknown among youngsters because he was not celebrated enough while he was still alive.
“I guess it’s the way things happen here in SA. I have been to many countries overseas and saw how they treat their own athletes. I am not saying this because I am bitter; I am not bothered by it because I am continuing with my life. I think the country played its part in celebrating me and it ended. Now it’s up to me and companies like Bridgestone to help my talent of training the youth. Life is all right for me. I was just disturbed by injury but I train twice a week.”
Asked how often he revisits the recording of that glorious day, Thugwane revealed he hadn’t watched it since around 2003 because he lost the VHS recording of the marathon.
“My problem is that I used to have a VHS recording of that race but people used to come to my house to borrow it and it was never returned. I wish that I can get a copy so that I can show my grandchildren what I did at the Olympics. This is the time I should be enjoying watching the video because I have retired and sitting at home doing nothing much, but it is not there.
I like helping the young ones with training so that they can be like me one day.
“The last time I watched the race was about 2003 but it has disappeared and I don’t even know who took it. It disappeared before I could put it on CD. It is difficult to get it and I don’t know who can help me to at least get a copy so that I can show it to my grandchildren.”
Through his partnership with Bridgestone, Thugwane said his passion of coaching will be revived.
“I am just happy that a big company like Bridgestone is going to help in reviving my passion for coaching the youth. Maybe those who have forgotten about me or those who didn’t know me will get the opportunity to see what I did at the Olympics. Maybe I will inspire young people to follow in my sporting footsteps.
“I like helping the young ones with training so that they can be like me one day. I retired because there were no sponsors to help me. It was very difficult to train the kids until they reach competition level if there is no proper financial support. I am happy that Bridgestone have showed interest in helping me to continue pursuing my passion of coaching. Athletes are there in the townships and villages but no one takes interest in them and I believe there is a world champions in those areas.
“At the moment, I am retired and only work with athletes who approach me seeking specialised training. There was a group of young boys that I used to work with but it was difficult because I could not take them to competitions. Those who come to me, I help them with training programmes and advice them on how to look after themselves. When I retired in 2010, I bought a bus to do coaching work but it was difficult to run the programme from my pocket because the expenses were high.
“There are too many challenges for up and coming athletes in the villages because they don’t have things like training gear and can’t follow proper diet. Children in the rural areas have been forgotten but they also have talent.”
In 1996, there was no social media and other technological advancements that have taken the world by storm, but the old dog is willing to learn new tricks now that he has been thrust back into the limelight.
“I will have to get used to media attention all over again. These days you guys have new things like social media and all that. In my days journalists used to write on the notebook when they interviewed me, but nowadays I see you are recording on the phone.
“I will have to get training on these things because I have to adapt. I have to go with what is happening these days because everyone is using technology. My grandkids will have to help with these things because I won’t be able to do them on my own. It’s the way people do things these days and I have no choice but to learn new ways.”
Now that he is back in the limelight, those who forgot him will be reminded of his majestic achievement on the grand stage and the youth will know one of the greatest sporting stories of post-apartheid SA.
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