From spinal fusion surgery to SA Champ - The inspiring comeback tale of Annie Bothma

After emerging victorious in the 2023 Durban International Marathon with a time of 02:30:31, Annie Bothma took a break from competitive running due to health concerns which included undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Nevertheless, Bothma remained resolute in her determination to make a comeback. On Sunday, 3 May, she announced her return with a personal best 2:27:45, when she finished as the runner-up at the Durban International Marathon, which incorporated the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Marathon Championships. As the first South African woman to cross the finish line, Bothma earned her second national title, describing the past few years as a particularly challenging period in her life.

"It sounds incredible considering what I have gone through in the past few years since I last ran this race. After I won Durban International Marathon in 2023, I was fortunate enough to get an elite start to Berlin Marathon that year," said Bothma who recently moved to Balito in Durban. 

Bothma smiles after claiming the SA title at the 2026 Durban International Marathon. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"However in the build up to the race around August, my back injury flared up. I was given wrong advice to do more strength training. By 2024, I got to the point when I couldn't walk for long and I couldn't drive myself. I got severely sick and ended up in ICU for two weeks, fighting for my life, and I lost about seven kilograms. It took me months to dig myself out of that hole,” she told #TheTopRunner.

With this performance, the 30-year-old, has earned a spot among the elite group of local female athletes who have broken the 2 hour 30 minute barrier over 42km, securing ninth place in the SA all-time rankings list. Additionally, this achievement represents the second-fastest time ever recorded by a South African on home soil after Glenrose Xaba set the national record (2:22:22) at the 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. Bothma had been poised to secure her maiden sub 2:30 clocking at the Durban City Marathon in March but a marshalling error and challenging weather conditions scuppered those plans.

"Unfortunately, at the Durban City Marathon, there was no leading bike. I ended up running a half a kilometre extra. My dad shouted on the side of the road stating that we missed a turn. Since I didn't want to run a short course, I had to go back again. The race didn't had adequate water tables like the Durban International Marathon. Our first water table was at 12km and it was  25 degrees and 90 percent humidity. I think hydration and other factors were challenging for me. I only found my rhythm after halfway. I closed the last 10km hard as I managed to run under 35 minutes, but unfortunately I failed to get sub 2 hours 30 minutes," she explained. 

Bothma won the race in 2023 and also claimed the SA title on that day. She says the route is faster now. Photo Credit: ASA Media.

Bothma's efforts were rewarded with a substantial financial gain of R105 000 on Sunday, consisting of R45 000 for her second-place finish, R30 000 for winning a national title, and an additional R30 000 bonus incentive for completing the course in under 2 hours 28 minutes. She thanked the organisers for putting together a good quality event.

"Durban International really stepped up with the way they changed the course compared to 2023. The route was quite challenging last time. This new course has a potential to produce the fast times and we saw that today, "