Gert Thys (born 12 November 1971) is a male long-distance runner from South Africa, who represented his native country in the marathon at the 1996 and 2004 Summer Olympics. Thys is a former African record holder in the marathon, and is the current holder of the South African record with his best of 2:06:33 from the 1999 Tokyo International Marathon, which was also the course record for that race.Tokyo International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (5 March 2010). Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
Biography Thys was born in Prieska, Northern Cape. He represented South Africa in the marathon at four consecutive editions of the World Championships in Athletics from 1999 to 2005. He has also competed at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships on three occasions, highlighted by top six finishes in 1997 and 1998.Thys Gert. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-10-24. Thys is a two-time winner of the Beppu-Ōita Marathon and his time of 2:08:30 set in 1996 was the course record until 2013.Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon. ARRS (24 December 2009). Retrieved on 2010-02-08. He was also a cross country runner earlier on in his career and was the 1994 winner of the Chiba International Cross Country.Chiba International Crosscountry. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (15 February 2009). Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
He also had success in East Asia at the Seoul International Marathon, where he won three times between 2003 and 2006, as well as taking the runner-up spot in 2005. However, he was disqualified after his 2006 win because his doping test at the race was positive for the banned steroid norandrosterone.Seoul International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (23 March 2010). Retrieved on 2010-10-23. Thys contested the outcome and a protracted hearing following his competitive ban by Athletics South Africa eventually resulted in his exoneration. Laboratory errors in processing his sample meant the Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS found in his favour.Gert Thys Banned by ASA. Runners World. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.Athletes' Voice . Athletes Lawyer (May 2010). Retrieved on 2010-10-24. In May 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland overruled this decision, declaring that the CAS has no jurisdiction over this case.4A_456/2009 (03.05.2010) Thys successfully argued to the court that the fact that the same technician had analysed both his positive samples (a breach of the anti-doping rules) had meant that the validity of the tests could not stand. His doping ban was overturned on this basis in 2012 and he was re-instated as the winner of the 2006 Seoul Marathon.Haumann, Riel (13 January 2012). Court Clears South African Marathoner Gert Thys . Competitor. Retrieved on 2012-01-13.
His extensive running career, which began at the age of thirteen, has taken in around forty competitive marathons. He came close to victory at the 2010 Beijing Marathon, but he slowed in the final stages and was runner-up to Siraj Gena.Butcher, Pat (24 October 2010). Ethiopian Siraj takes victory in rain soaked Beijing. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
Achievements Representing 1993Lake Biwa MarathonŌtsu Japan3rdMarathon2:11:40Fukuoka MarathonFukuoka, Japan2ndMarathon2:09:311995New York City MarathonNew York City, United States11thMarathon2:13:281996Olympic GamesAtlanta, United States33rdMarathon2:18:55Beppu-Ōita MarathonBeppu-Ōita, Japan 1stMarathon2:08:30Reims à Toutes JambesReims, France3rdMarathon2:11:131997Beppu-Ōita MarathonBeppu-Ōita, Japan2ndMarathon2:13:14Gold Coast MarathonBrisbane, Australia2ndMarathon2:11:551998Boston MarathonBoston, United States3rdMarathon2:07:52Chicago MarathonChicago, United States3rdMarathon2:07:451999Tokyo MarathonTokyo, Japan 1stMarathon2:06:33World ChampionshipsSeville, Spain15thMarathon2:17:132000London MarathonLondon, United Kingdom12thMarathon2:11:32Fukuoka MarathonFukuoka, Japan7thMarathon2:14:282001London MarathonLondon, United Kingdom10thMarathon2:12:11World ChampionshipsEdmonton, Canada—MarathonDNF2002Seoul International MarathonSeoul, South Korea4thMarathon2:12:46New York City MarathonNew York City, United States7thMarathon2:11:482003Tokyo International MarathonTokyo, Japan7thMarathon2:12:51Seoul International MarathonSeoul, South Korea1stMarathon2:08:42World ChampionshipsParis, France30thMarathon2:15:002004Seoul International MarathonSeoul, South Korea1stMarathon2:07:06Olympic GamesAthens, Greece16thMarathon2:16:08Fukuoka MarathonFukuoka, Japan4thMarathon2:14:272005Seoul International MarathonSeoul, South Korea2ndMarathon2:11:19World ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland—MarathonDNF2006Beppu-Ōita MarathonBeppu-Ōita, Japan 1stMarathon2:09:45Seoul International MarathonSeoul, South Korea1stMarathon2:10:40
References
External links
Marathon Info profile