"I see the light" - Tumelo Moja announces his arrival with Two Oceans gold on ultra debut

With six gold medalists finishing in the top ten for the first time and five of those making their 56km debut, the 2026 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD represented a changing of the guard as a new crop of ultra marathon stars took to the stage. Perhaps most impressive of all was the performance of Tumelo Moja who took an eye-catching fifth position in 3:12:07. The Phantane Athletic Club novice was not only attempting the World’s Most Beautiful Race for the first time, but he was also making his ultra marathon debut.

Moja finishing the Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon powered by BYD in fifth position. Photo Credit: Action Photo.

"My coach told me that it didn't matter if I didn't finish the race because he just wanted to me to gain experience and see what it's like to run in the lead bunch with all of those top runners," says the 28-year-old two only found out a week before the race that his coach had entered him.

His coach Mdu Khumalo speaks highly of the Hans Kekana Secondary School matriculant who left his home in Hamanskraal north of Pretoria in mid-2025 to chase his running dream more than 500km away. Khumalo explains that he decided to enter Moja into the ultra marathon against seasoned campaigners such as Onalenna Khonkhobe, Siboniso Sikhakhane and Joseph Seutloali after seeing him train with the rest of the Phantane group during their long runs in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

Moja (second in red) training with Pontsho Motaung (first in black) in the township of Temba in Hammanskraal. Photo Credit: Pontsho Motaung.

"His story is amazing. He only joined Phantane last year. He was introduced to me by Pontsho (Motuang) because they come from the same area. Tumelo told me that after losing his job in the agriculture sector he was unemployed and looking to start running again, but he lacked support. So I invited him to come to Durban and I immediately saw how strong he was during our long runs. He had guts and would stick with the top guys."

Under the guidance of the man who mentored and developed late former SA Champion Mbuleli Mathanga, Moja blossomed. Within a few short months he began to place inside the top ten of local KZNA 10km, 21km and 42km races. Last September, Moja claimed fifth at the South Coast Marathon in a race won by Ayanda Ngcobo where he challenged the eventual winner before dropping back to finish the hilly race in 2:31:56. But when he won the uMngeni-uThukela Water Annual Marathon outside Howick in 2:30:31 on 8 March 2026, Khumalo knew Moja was ready for his first ultra marathon test.

Moja poses with fellow 2026 Two Oceans 56km gold medalists Onalenna Khonkhobe (left) and Malixole Kalideni (right) at the Prize Giving dinner on Sunday 12 April. Photo Credit: Mdu Khumalo.

"Even though the coach said I could stop at 44km, I wanted to finish my first ultra marathon," says the man whose love for running started in school as a cross country and 1500m athlete. "So when I saw the coach at around 45km I told him that my body was still feeling good. He said it was up to me to finish, so I decided to continue. My mind was also strong. Although Constantia Nek was tough, I just hung on and kept on reminding myself that this is what I came here for. So I just sat in the bunch and maintained the pace until Khonkhobe and the rest left me around 51km, but I made sure to stay in touch."

"I was so excited when I saw that I was going to take position five. It feels like my life is moving forward. I tried to so hard to find support in Pretoria and AGN but I couldn't get help until I joined Phantane. I was so lucky to meet Pontsho and train with him because he opened the door for me to go to Durban. I see the light. It’s been so difficult to get where I am today.”