GEORGE NEWS - One of the greatest stories in Comrades Marathon history reached a bittersweet turning point on Sunday 14 June when record-holder Louis Massyn fell just short of his 51st finish.

The gruelling 85.77km up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg ultimately proved a step too far this year for the 75-year-old George athlete, who holds the record for the most Comrades Marathon finishes.

Massyn had done much of the hard work and successfully conquered the infamous Polly Shortts climb. He reached the Mkondeni checkpoint in 11 hours, 17 minutes and seven seconds.

However, his legs could not carry him to the finish before the 12-hour cut-off, resulting in a Did Not Finish (DNF) and ending his quest for a 51st medal.

"It was a tough day on the road. I struggled with cramps from early on in the race and simply started to lose too much time. So I decided to stop at 62km," said Massyn.

"Thank you for all the support. The camaraderie of Comrades remains, and we will be back!"

Despite Sunday's disappointment, Massyn's place in Comrades folklore was secured long ago.

Last year, the veteran runner achieved an unprecedented milestone when he completed his 50th Comrades during the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. He crossed the line in 11:53:14, making it home with six minutes and some change, becoming the first person in the race's history to record 50 finishes.

Massyn first tackled the Comrades in 1973. Apart from the Covid-19 cancellations in 2020 and 2021, he only missed the 2022 race due to a knee injury that prevented him from reaching the start line.

Another local athlete, Eddie Mouton, completed his 30th Comrades Marathon this year. During an emotional interview at the finish line, he said he would continue running the Comrades for as long as he can.

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