Lusapho April's memory of Josia inspires him

21 August 2016 - 02:00 By DAVID ISAACSON

Lusapho April has spent the past four years dreaming of winning the Olympic marathon.Today he tries to make it come true.April, Sibusiso Nzima and Lungile Gongqa represent South Africa in the 42km race that starts at 2.30pm (SA time) hoping to win the nation's first medal in this event since Josia Thugwane took gold 20 years ago at Atlanta 1996.That moment inspired Nzima, who grew up at Westonaria on the West Rand. "I was encouraged by Josia," said Nzima, a nine-year-old cross country runner at the time. "I just fell in love with athletics."story_article_left1Thirty-seven-year-old Gongqa, from Ngcobo in the former Transkei, still has the severe stutter he has carried since his youth, when he was laughed at by other children for his speech defect.Running was a way of escaping the ridicule.There were no therapists around, and when he is asked to speak in English, the stutter gets worse.Fellow Eastern Cape product April, who grew up at Addo near Port Elizabeth, was inspired by the hard work of a local runner there, Cecil Nazo."He was always training whatever the weather, whether it was hot, raining, cold, windy," said April, 34, who lives in Langa outside Uitenhage.April, who first joined coach Karen Zimmerman at her training group in Port Elizabeth in 1996, is the only one of the trio who was at the London Games four years ago, finishing first of the SA contingent in 43rd spot overall.His best result in big races was a third place at the 2013 New York Marathon, although his performances at the Boston marathon after that were not quite what he wanted."I've worked on my weaknesses and made them my strengths," said April, who had stuck with the lead group beyond the halfway mark before slipping off the pace."We have been working on distance," he added, explaining his weekly workload increased from 160km to as much as 220km."I've worked so hard for the last four years I am going for a podium finish," April insisted."I'm healthy, I've been injury free. I know I'll get to the start line ready to challenge."I need to be focused and make sure I don't lose contact with the guys in front.story_article_right2"It's a matter of staying in the zone."The South African runners have personal bests that are slower than the pre-race favourites - April's 2:08.32 is the quickest - but that doesn't faze him."They run those times in big city marathons where there's a pacemaker," said April."At the Olympics here it takes a big heart. It's not about racing fast, it's about being totally aware."April knows how to win, having won the Hanover Marathon three times between 2011 and this year, and setting the course record with his PB three years ago.He just has to get it right on the day.The men's marathon has produced more medals for South Africa than any other athletics event, with four in total, three of them from more than a century ago.Charles Hefferon took silver at London 1908, while Kennedy McArthur and Christian Gitsham gave SA a one-two finish at Stockholm 1912...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.