'I have no words' - Muzhingi plans to return to Comrades 2026 after CMA recognition

On Sunday 8 June, Tete Dijana was the first man to cross the finish line outside People's Park in Durban in 5:25:28 to win the 98th Edition of the Comrades Marathon. By so doing, 37-year-old Dijana wrote his name into the history books by becoming only the third black athlete after Bongumusa Mthembu - who finished in eighth position on the day - and legendary Stephen Muzhingi, to win the world’s most famous ultra marathon three times. The next morning these three men met at the Comrades Breakfast of Champions at the Elangeni Hotel.

Muzhingi celebrates one of his three Comrades Marathon victories. Photo Credit: Supplied.

Dijana and Mthembu were invited to receive their cheques for placing inside the top ten, while Muzhingi was invited as a special guest and was awarded with his winners jacket alongside former champions including Ludiwck Mamabolo (2012) and Claude Moshiywa (2013). Muzhingi is one of the few athletes to win the race three times in a row - a feat he achieved from 2009 - 2011. Pleasant surprised by the recognition he received, the former Bluff Meats Athletic Club top runner struggled to find the words to describe the joy he was feeling.

"I don't know what to say. I'm completely lost for words with this surprise from the Comrades Marathon Association," he told #TheTopRunner.

From Left: Moshiywa, Mamabolo and Muzhingi receive their Comrades Marathon jackets from 1982 winner and former CMA Chairperson Cheryl Winn. Photo credit: MWMedia.

"I received a call from Comrades saying I must come as they have some presentation that I was needed for. So I came here not knowing that I'm going to get my winners jacket. This was unexpected. It’s good to get recognition from a race that is close to my heart. Plus I'm happy that I got a chance to catch up with some of the athletes with whom I ran in the past."

Muzhingi's Comrades past is a glittering CV of noteworthy accomplishments. In addition to his famous three victories, he boasts a total of nine gold medals and was also the first Zimbabwean to win the 90km race between Piteremaritzburg and Durban. In his first victory, he dominated the Down Run winning in 5:23:27 with the second placed athlete and pre-race favourite Leonid Shvetsov coming home in 5:33:10. But he regards his 2011 win where he ran 5:32:46 to narrowly edge out Fanie Matshipa (5:34:30), as his most treasured triumph. 

Muzinghi in action at the Two Oceans Marathon. He won 2012 the race around the Cape peninsula in 3:08:08. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"When I started running Comrades, the Russians were the dominant athletes. They were so strong. I won in 2009 as a surprise package as no one gave me a chance against Shvetsov. But if you have trained well, nothing can stand in your way. I came back the following year to win again," explains the man who also won the 2012 Two Oceans Ultra Marathon.

"But I think in 2011, there was a lot of talk about more athletes coming to defeat me. There was a huge field of good athletes but I managed to do my homework properly and won on the day. So that 2011 victory is so special because I beat so many good runners. Winning a competitive race gives you motivation that you are the best."

Muzhingi battling against former winners Bongmusa Mthembu and Ludwick Mamabolo at Comrades. Photo Credit: Kierran Allen.

More than a decade later, the 45-year-old still harbours hope of running the race he last completed in 2017 when a 6:01:22 finish was good enough for 20th position during that Up Run. The Airforce Zimbabwe employee, says the passing of his wife Erina, in 2020 after long illness, took a toll in his life. But with renewed vigour, Muzhingi says he intends to return to his beloved Comrades Marathon next year. 

"I had a lot of injuries few years ago, then my late wife fell ill in 2016 and things didn't go my way. I was completely stressed and couldn't train well. But now that my kids are older, I can focus on my running again. I'm planning to come back next year to run Comrades."