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A historic fourth Two Oceans Marathon win for Kovsie alumna Gerda Steyn

15 April 2023 | Story Gerda-Marié van Rooyen | Photo Two Oceans Marathon Twitter

Gerda Steyn winning the 2023 Two Oceans Marathon — Former UFS student, Gerda Steyn, made history this weekend – she is the first woman to win the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon four consecutive times.

Kovsie alumna Gerda Steyn provided much jubilation on Saturday 15 April 2023, as she became the first woman to win the Two Oceans Marathon four consecutive times. Steyn, who represented South Africa in the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021, improved her personal best by finishing the race 39 seconds faster than her winning time in 2022.

Shortly after her fourth win in the 56 km race, Steyn told media that the desire to inspire girls kept her motivated during the race. “I thought of all the girls watching (the race) with their parents and seeing a woman who looked like everyone else winning this big race.” The former University of the Free State (UFS) professional athlete managed an average pace of 3:45 minutes per kilometre. Steyn proved that hard work pays off, as she finished 14th at the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in 2016. Her first-ever first place at this race was in 2018, and again in 2019 and 2022 – the marathon was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Proving that she not only has golden feet but a heart of gold too, she pledged to donate some of her bonus money towards the development of athletes living in Muizenberg shortly after she won the Two Oceans in record time in 2022. A true example of perseverance and hard work, she also won the Comrades Marathon in 2019, and finished seventh in the London Marathon in 2020.

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, says that Gerda is an embodiment of focus and determination. “I am so proud of her. The UFS is truly the home of champions, as can be seen by the achievements of Olympic track athletes Wayde van Niekerk, Louzanne Coetzee, and champions in many other sporting codes.”

Saturday’s Two Oceans Marathon saw Ethiopian-born Amelework Fikadu Bosho finish second in the women’s race – crossing the finish line 12 minutes after Steyn – with Carla Molinaro from Britain in the third position. Approximately 10 000 athletes entered the race, starting at the Newlands Stadium and ending on the University of Cape Town's campus.

News Archive

UFS celebrates Kovsie Week

2009-08-21

The University of the Free State (UFS) will be celebrating Kovsie Week from 31 August to 4 September 2009. The week affords friends, colleagues and former colleagues of the UFS the opportunity to enjoy one another’s company and to experience what the university offers.

The programme is as follows:

On Monday, 31 August 2009, a star-gazing programme and lecture entitled “400 Years of Astronomy after Galileo” are presented by Prof. Matie Hoffman at the Boyden Observatory at 17:30 for 18:00. Attendance is free and bus transport will be available from the UFS Main Campus for the first 70 guests that respond. Reserved parking has been arranged with a security guard to look after the cars that are left on the campus.

On Tuesday, 1 September 2009, guests can attend the production by Pieter Venter entitled “Impi” for free in the Wynand Mouton Theatre at 14:30 for 15:00.

On Wednesday, 2 September 2009, an enjoyable morning in the company of Mr Derek de Bruyn from the National Museum is presented at the Centenary Complex of the UFS at 09:30 for 10:00. He will talk about the social life of Bloemfontein during the early 1900s and guests will be entertained by the Boere Orkes of Grey College Primary School under the direction of Santjie Louw. Attendance of this event is free.

On Thursday, 3 September 2009, at 19:00 for 19:30, a candle-light, sherry and soup evening with romantic piano music is presented at the UFS Centenary Complex by Prof. Nicol Viljoen from the UFS’s Department of Music. The programme includes, amongst others, 10 Lieder ohne worte (Felix Mendelssohn), as well as Ballade No. 1 (Fryderyk Chopin). Attendance of this event is also free.

The week will end with the Kovsie-Alumni Award Gala Dinner that will take place in the UFS Centenary Complex on Friday, 4 September 2009, at 18:30 for 19:00.
The cost per person for the dinner is R120. The Kovsie of the Year Award for alumni, the Cum Laude Award, and the Alumni Award for Exceptional Service at the UFS will be awarded at this occasion.

Transport can be arranged to all the functions and parking will be available as close as possible to the venue where the functions take place. Persons interested to attend any of the functions can contact Annanda Calitz at 051 401 3382 or ficka.stg@ufs.ac.za, or Ms Kathy Verwey at 051 401 9343 or verweyke.stg@ufs.ac.za.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Deputy Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
21 August 2009

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