'This is how I wanted to end it' - David Gatebe calls time on Comrades career

Of the most celebrated performances at the 2025 Comrades Marathon, perhaps the one which received one of the most hearty round of applause was that of former champion David Gatebe. After throwing in a telling surge as the lead bunch flew down Fields Hill on their 89.98km journey from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on 8 June, the 2016 champion showed that although he may no longer have all of the speed that led him to that memorable 5:18:19 victory in what remains the fastest average Down Run pace, he is still a formidable competitor.

Gatebe with Impala AC coach Blackie Swart at the finish line of the 98th running of the Comrades Marathon. Photo credit: Implats.

"I'm proud of myself and happy with my finishing position," he said after claiming seventh position in 5:34:30 for his third gold medal. "This is how I wanted to end my Comrades career. Even though there are those that want me to continue, I'll help the upcoming youngsters but my competitive days are over. My wish has always been to start and finish my Comrades career with a gold medal and that’s what I've done," he said after leading the Impala Marathon Club to victory in the veteran Men's Team Competition.

Reflecting on his longevity, the 43-year-old explains that after winning the 2013 Two Oceans Marathon under coach Dave Adams who now coaches three-time Comrades champion Tete Dijana and 2019 champion Edward Mothibi, he decided to take on the challenge of becoming the first man in history to win both the Two Oceans 56km race and The Ultimate Human Race in the same calendar year.

Gatebe with coach David Adams after victory at the 2013 Two Oceans Marathon. He used his winnings to buy a house. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"Remember after Two Oceans, I came to try my luck at Comrades to see if I couldn’t win Comrades and Two Oceans in the same year. I surged too early, while my competitors were patient and the race ended up being won by Claude Moshiywa. I learnt from that mistake and went to join John Hamlett's camp in Dullstroom."

That 24th position 6:19:37 debut was to be the beginning of a decorated Comrades career which yielded three gold, one Wally Hayward and seven silver medals. Yet what Gatebe treasures more than the medals is that he has been able to share the knowledge he accumulated over the years with the next generation - a process which gave birth to 'Slenda' Mothibi's own success.

Gatebe (seventh position), coach Swart and Mothibi (fourth position) after completing Comrades 2025. Photo Credit: Implats.

"Comrades success requires a strong mind, that’s why I liked Edward. I recruited him in 2018 to come and run Comrades. People said he was too thin to do well at Comrades, but he took fourth position and then we got the win out of him because we worked on him physically and mentally. It's all about the mindset. This thing is a baton. I took it and gave it to Slenda and now Slenda gave it to Tete. Now we are waiting for the next champion to take the baton from Tete."