He is no longer the reigning, defending, undisputed Two Oceans Half-Marathon champion. However, Elroy Gelant transcends the above-mentioned moniker. After the 2020 and 2021 half-marathons had been scrapped due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on Sunday, 17 April 2022 Gelant relinquished the title he had won in 2019. Yet he again showed the grit and resolve that have been hallmarks of his exceptional career. Gelant claimed silver, which is a great achievement that is made exceptional if one takes into consideration the thigh muscle injury he sustained at the 2021 Olympic Games in Japan.

Gelant had to endure an exhaustive rehabilitation period of five months, which left him only 13 weeks to get into fighting shape for the Two Oceans Marathon. However, this People and Culture staff member at the North-West University (NWU), who hails from Pacaltsdorp, did just that and finished second behind Zimbabwean Moses Tarakinyu, who finished in a time of 1:03:31. Gelant passed the finish line only 1,55 seconds later. For a race of 21,1 km that is agonisingly, heartbreakingly close.

“I am very happy with the race, especially after the injury I had. It was a difficult road getting back into shape and I feel I am reaching my best form again. I would like to thank everyone who supported me during that time. I could not have done it without you,” says Gelant.

With a stacked athletics calendar as normality gradually returns to our world, it is safe to say that numerous podiums await the 35-year-old with the never-say-die attitude. Opponents beware.