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 different languages on Wikipedia. Josia Thugwane is the 4,238th most popular athlete (down from 3,167th in 2019), the 351st most popular biography from South Africa (down from 293rd in 2019) and the 29th most popular South African Athlete.

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Among ATHLETES

Among athletes, Josia Thugwane ranks 4,238 out of 6,025. Before him are Yuliya Stepanova, Yu Song, Shericka Jackson, Ágatha Bednarczuk, Stig-André Berge, and Benedikt Doll. After him are Michael Jurack, Yevgeniya Polyakova, Mirela Demireva, Todd Bennett, Kaori Matsumoto, and Mauro Nespoli.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1971, Josia Thugwane ranks 957. Before him are Sara Blakely, Murat Kardanov, Scott Booth, Kiyoshi Nakamura, Rachel McQuillan, and Hiroyoshi Kuwabara. After him are Jari Mantila, Questlove, Binyavanga Wainaina, Yasuo Manaka, Mikael Damberg, and Joe-Max Moore.

Others Born in 1971

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In South Africa

Among people born in South Africa, Josia Thugwane ranks 351 out of 454. Before him are Lindiwe Sisulu (1954), Louis Meintjes (1992), Yvonne Chaka Chaka (1965), Graeme Pollock (1944), Andre Arendse (1967), and Shaun Morgan (1978). After him are Percy Tau (1994), Tammin Sursok (1983), Craig Johnston (1960), Tanit Phoenix (1980), Victor Gomes (1982), and David Miller (1989).

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Among ATHLETES In South Africa

Among athletes born in South Africa, Josia Thugwane ranks 29. 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), Sunette Viljoen (1983), Okkert Brits (1973), James Thompson (1986), Clinton Hill (1980), and Nicholas Martinez (null).

South African born Athletes

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