Gerda Steyn has 180 000 more reasons to win the Two Oceans Marathon. As if Gerda Steyn needed extra motivation to continue her dominance of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon (TTOM), the organisers of the world’s most beautiful marathon just went and gave the queen of ultra-running 180,000 more reasons to obliterate the opposition. The TTOM NPC, along with their staging and commercial partner Stillwater Sports, have announced a massive increase in total prize money for their flagship 56km ultra as well as the half-marathon, a move that will definitely make for much stiffer competition in this year’s edition.
Stiff as the contests will be in April, it can almost be guaranteed that Steyn will yet again smash the opposition as she’s been doing in recent years. The Hollywood Athletics Club starlet can thus be pencilled in to win the massive R380,000 first prize money put aside for the champions. Whether her teammate Joseph Seutloali will defend his title is up in the air; the competition in the men’s race is so tight there has not been a back-to-back winner of the ultra since Stephen Muzhingi in 2012.
But the man from Lesotho was bold at the race’s launch in the Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town, the defending champion declaring that the near half a million rand is heading into his bank account. “That money is going to Lesotho. I am ready to win,” he told the gathering, having earlier explained that he’d used the R250,000 windfall from last year’s victory to build a home and start a business.
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Overall, there is a combined prize purse of R2.6 million, which clearly reaffirms the race’s place among the world’s most prestigious road-running events. The Ultra Marathon offers R2,177,400 while there is a substantial R422,600 put aside for the Half Marathon. With this prize purse, TTOM are showing their ongoing commitment to attracting top-tier talent, celebrating elite performance, and delivering world-class racing excitement.
“By increasing the prize purse for 2026, we’re not only recognising the dedication and talent of elite athletes but also raising the profile of the event on the global stage. It’s a clear statement that the Two Oceans Marathon is committed to fostering world-class competition while honouring our rich heritage in road running,” said Chris Goldschmidt, Chairperson of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC. Building on this vision, Wade Bromfield, General Manager of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, highlighted the broader impact of the increased prize purse: “Increasing the prize purse is more than just a financial boost — it’s an investment in the athletes and the integrity of the race itself.
It shows our commitment to supporting elite runners, while also elevating the prestige of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon. This step reinforces our mission to create a race experience that inspires ambition, celebrates achievement, and upholds our position as a world-class event.”
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