Josia Thugwane

Josia Thugwane is a South African former marathon runner who won the 1996 Olympic marathon in the closest finish in the event's history, becoming the first Black South African to win an Olympic gold medal.

Three seconds separated Josia Thugwane from South Korea's Lee Bong-Ju at the finish of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic marathon — the closest finish in the event's history — and Thugwane, who had survived a carjacking and a bullet wound just months earlier, became the first Black South African to win Olympic gold.. He initially aspired to be a professional footballer, but at 17, inspired by South African distance stars Matthews Temane and Xolile Yawa, turned to running, entering half-marathons for the modest prize money. Thugwane won the South African national marathon title in 1993, and his international breakthrough came with victory at the 1995 Honolulu Marathon. Just months before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he survived a carjacking in which he was shot, the bullet grazing his chin, and injured his back escaping his moving vehicle, but recovered in time to compete. At the Atlanta Games, Thugwane broke away from the leading pack alongside South Korea's Lee Bong-Ju and Kenya's Erick Wainaina in the marathon's closing stages, and out-sprinted Lee into the stadium to win gold by just three seconds — the closest finish in Olympic marathon history — becoming the first Black South African to win an Olympic gold medal, following the country's return to the Games after the end of apartheid. He continued competing successfully in 1997, winning the Fukuoka Marathon and the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award, before his form declined and he finished 20th at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Tactically patient marathon runner known for a decisive late kick in the closing stages of a race

A symbol of post-apartheid South African sporting achievement, whose victory came in one of the most dramatic finishes in Olympic history

• Olympic champion, marathon (1996)
• First Black South African Olympic gold medallist
• Closest Olympic marathon finish in history (3 seconds)
• Fukuoka Marathon winner (1997)
• AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award (1997)