ATHLETE

Josia Thugwane

1971 - Today

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Josia Thugwane (born 15 April 1971) is a South African retired long-distance runner, best known for winning the gold medal in the marathon at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Thugwane, who is of Ndebele heritage, is the first black athlete to earn an Olympic gold for South Africa. Born in Bethal, Thugwane ran his first marathon in 1991, but his breakthrough to the international athletics scene came in 1995, when he won the Honolulu Marathon. Just five months before the Games commenced, Thugwane was carjacked and shot; the bullet grazed his chin, leaving an inch-long scar, and he injured his back as a result of jumping from his moving car. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 21 different languages on Wikipedia. Josia Thugwane is the 4,673rd most popular athlete (down from 3,124th in 2024), the 367th most popular biography from South Africa (down from 292nd in 2019) and the 28th most popular South African Athlete.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1971, Josia Thugwane ranks 1,103. Before him are Park Kun-ha, Kiyoshi Nakamura, Rachel McQuillan, Jacob Vargas, Vladislav Pavlovich, and Hiroyoshi Kuwabara. After him are Tord Wiksten, Dolly Wells, Franck Esposito, Vazha Tarkhnishvili, Mike Wengren, and Zaal Udumashvili.

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In South Africa

Among people born in South Africa, Josia Thugwane ranks 365 out of 454. Before him are Chester Williams (1970), Graeme Pollock (1944), Andre Arendse (1967), and Shaun Morgan (1978). After him are Percy Tau (1994), Lebogang Morula (1966), Tammin Sursok (1983), Craig Johnston (1960), Tanit Phoenix (1980), David O. Sacks (1972), Victor Gomes (1982), and Caren Pistorius (1990).

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Among ATHLETES In South Africa

Among athletes born in South Africa, Josia Thugwane ranks 28. Before him are Elana Meyer (1966), L. J. van Zyl (1985), Frantz Kruger (1975), Hestrie Cloete (1978), Chris Wood (null), and Bridgitte Hartley (1983). After him are Raúl Martínez (null), Sven Schmid (1978), Marilyn Agliotti (1979), Mark Plaatjes (1962), Ramon di Clemente (1975), and Sunette Viljoen (1983).

South African born Athletes

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