Gerda Steyn cannot wait to represent South Africa at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where she will run the marathon distance event.
Steyn has not represented her country before but after winning the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons this year there is no one better to fly the SA flag in Japan.
“I don’t think that there has been one single secret behind my athletic improvement but hard work over a long period of time has certainly started to pay off and also the fact that I find a great deal of pleasure in running,” the Risidale resident told Northcliff Melville Times.
“I am planning on defending my titles but I haven’t fully decided on my racing calendar for the new year. The Two Oceans and Comrades races are both really close to my heart and just transformed my life in so many ways that I can’t imagine it not being part of my yearly calendar.”
Steyn, who is sponsored by Nedbank Running Club, was formerly a quantity surveyor but gave it up when her running became more serious.
“It has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make but also one of the best things that I could have done.”
Steyn only started running seriously in 2014 and ran her first Comrades the year after.
“I have been hooked since then and my running career went from amateur to professional athlete in a very short time. It has been the most exciting five years and I would never have imagined my life to turn out in the way that it did.”
In addition to running, Steyn cycles, hikes and does gym workouts that aid her running by strengthening her body.
She also takes on trail running on easy days and is considering competing in trail races in the future.
