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Bright future for Two Oceans winner and former Kovsie Gerda Steyn
Gerda Steyn, former Kovsie student and winner of the Two Oceans ultramarathon this year, with her trophy.

Gerda Steyn, female winner of this year’s Two Oceans ultramarathon, says her life has changed for the better in a very short time.

The former Kovsie received an invitation to a world-renowned marathon at the end of the year. She may not reveal the details yet.

Steyn, who studied Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) between 2009 and 2012, was just the third South African to win the Two Oceans since 1994. Her time of 3:39:31 was the second-best in the past seven years. For many she was a surprise winner because she didn’t compete last year and only managed a 14th place in 2016. 

“Things really took off since the race (in Cape Town at the end of March). I received a lot of exposure. People say you must try and win the race, but they don’t tell you what will happen after that with all the media attention.

“My next goal is the Comrades for which I started training in the third week of April. I will only decide on my specific goals for the race two weeks beforehand.” She obtained a fourth place last year.

According to Steyn, who is a full-time athlete, she only did a couple of cross country races while she was studying. 

“I played a bit of soccer and hockey for my hostel (Soetdoring). I have very fond memories from my university days. A couple of our hostel friends had a reunion after the race in Cape Town and had reason to have a big party.”

News Archive

UFS Council approves Moshoeshoe memorial lecture
2004-11-29

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the implementation of a Moshoeshoe memorial lecture as from next year.

“This initiative forms part of the bigger Moshoeshoe project to honour the Moshoeshoe legacy of nation-building and reconciliation and to explore his role as a model of African leadership. The project was launched in April 2004 as part of the UFS centenary celebrations. One element of the project was the production of a documentary film, commissioned by the UFS, which was broadcast on SABC2,” says Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

“The Moshoeshoe project, which honours the founder of the Basotho nation’s example of nation-building and reconciliation, is a practical demonstration of the university’s commitment to the continued transformation of the campus and the creation of a new inclusive institutional culture for all staff and students,” says Prof Fourie.

According to Prof Fourie the memorial lecture will have a conscious continental focus with speakers from South Africa, Africa and the African diaspora.

“The high-level lectures will raise critical issues about models of African leadership for the African Renaissance and will contribute to the discourse on nation-building, reconciliation, political tolerance, diversity management etc,” says Prof Fourie.

The first Moshoeshoe memorial lecture is likely to take place in March 2005 on the anniversary of his death.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
29 November 2004

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