The Comrades Marathon's fastest recorded times are 5:13:58 for men (Tete Dijana, 2023 down run) and 5:44:54 for women (Gerda Steyn, 2023 down run). Steyn also holds the up-run record, becoming the first woman to break 6 hours with her 5:49:46 in 2024. The most gold medals earned in the women's race is 13 by Elena Nurgalieva, while Allan Robb leads the men's race with 12.
The race also highlights endurance over decades. Louis Massyn has completed 50 Comrades Marathons — the most in history. In 2023 Johannes Maros Mosehla became the oldest known finisher aged 81, a record he extended in 2024 and 2025. He beat the record held by Wally Hayward, who completed the race at age 80 in 1989, 58 years after his first win.
10 Fastest times (up & down runs)
+ 10 Fastest Up Run Times – Men Rank Year Athlete Nation Time Position 1 2026 George Kusche South Africa 5:15:56 1st 2 2026 Piet Wiersma Netherlands 5:19:36 2nd 3 2026 Mbuti Mollo South Africa 5:21:31 3rd 4 2026 Alex Milne United Kingdom 5:22:29 4th 5 2026 Haruki Okayama Japan 5:24:46 5th 6 2008 Leonid Shvetsov Russia 5:24:49 1st 7 2024 Piet Wiersma Netherlands 5:25:00 1st 8 2000 Vladimir Kotov Belarus 5:25:33 1st 9 2024 Dan Moselakwe South Africa 5:25:45 2nd10 1998 Dmitri Grishin Russia 5:26:25 1st
+ 10 Fastest Up Run Times – Women Rank Year Athlete Nation Time Position 1 2026 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:44:53 1st 2 2024 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:49:46 1st 3 2026 Nobukhosi Tshuma Zimbabwe 5:53:36 2nd 4 2019 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:58:53 1st 5 2026 Irvette van Zyl South Africa 6:02:30 3rd 6 2024 Alexandra Morozova Russia 6:05:12 2nd 7 2026 Shelmith Muriuki Kenya 6:06:38 4th 8 2026 Naomi Robinson United Kingdom 6:07:55 5th 9 2024 Courtney Olsen USA 6:08:09 3rd10 2006 Elena Nurgalieva Russia 6:09:24 1st
+ 10 Fastest Down Run Times – Men Rank Year Athlete Nation Time Position 1 2023 Tete Dijana South Africa 5:13:58 1st 2 2023 Piet Wiersma Netherlands 5:14:01 2nd 3 2023 Edward Mothibi South Africa 5:17:34 3rd 4 2016 David Gatebe South Africa 5:18:19 1st 5 2007 Leonid Shvetsov Russia 5:20:41 1st 6 2009 Stephen Muzhingi Zimbabwe 5:23:27 1st 7 2016 Ludwick Mamabolo South Africa 5:24:05 2nd 8 1986 Bruce Fordyce South Africa 5:24:07 1st 9 2025 Tete Dijana South Africa 5:25:28 1st 10 2025 Piet Wiersma Netherlands 5:25:33 2nd
+ 10 Fastest Down Run Times – Women Rank Year Athlete Nation Time Position 1 2023 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:44:54 1st 2 2025 Gerda Steyn South Africa 5:51:19 1st 3 1989 Frith van der Merwe South Africa 5:54:43 1st 4 2025 Alexandra Morozova Russia 5:55:56 2nd 5 2023 Adele Broodryk South Africa 5:56:26 2nd 6 1997 Ann Trason USA 5:58:25 1st 7 2005 Tatyana Zhirkova Russia 5:58:51 1st 8 2023 Carla Molinaro South Africa 6:00:23 3rd 9 1997 Maria Bak Germany 6:00:28 2nd 10 2023 Dominika Stelmach Poland 6:06:02 4th
Multiple winners '+' denotes winner of both an up and a down run
Men's championWinsClubWomen's championWinsClub Bruce Fordyce +9Wits AC, Rand AC Elena Nurgalieva +8 Arthur Newton +5 Gerda Steyn +5Nedbank RC, Phantane AC, Hollywood Bets AC Hardy Ballington +5 Maureen Holland +4 Wally Hayward +5Germiston Callies Harriers Lettie van Zyl +3Germiston Callies Harriers Jackie Mekler +5Germiston Callies Harriers Helen Lucre +3Hillcrest Villagers AC Alan Robb +4Germiston Callies Harriers Frith van der Merwe +3Benoni Northerns AC Dave Bagshaw +3Savages AC Maria Bak +3Germany Stephen Muzhingi +3 Aleksandra Morozova2 Vladimir Kotov3 Isavel Roche-Kelly +2UCT AC Bongmusa Mthembu +3 Elizabeth Cavanagh2Estcourt AC Tete Dijana3Nedbank RC Olesya Nurgalieva2 Johnny Coleman2 Ann Trason +2USA Bill Cochrane +2 Lindsay Weight +2UCT AC Gerald Walsh +2Durban AC Trevor Allen +2Durban AC Derek Preiss2Westville AC Dmitri Grishin2 Leonid Shvetsov +2
Most gold medals Gold medals were first awarded in 1931, and to the first 6 male finishers. In 1972, this was extended to the first 10 male finishers, as it is today. In 1983 a gold medal was awarded to the female winner for the first time. In 1988, this was extended to the first 3 female finishers, then to the first 5 female finishers from 1995, and from 1998 onward to the first 10 female finishers, on par with the male race.
The following runners won 7 or more gold medals, gold medal span in brackets, clubs noted for local runners, race winners in bold:
+ Runners with 7 or More Comrades Gold Medals – Men Athlete Nation Club (if local) Gold Medals Medal Span Alan Robb South Africa Germiston Callies Harriers 12 1974–1991 Bruce Fordyce South Africa Wits University / Rand AC 11 1979–1990 Bongmusa Mthembu South Africa MAXED Elite KZN / Nedbank RC / Arthur Ford AC 11 2009–2025 Trevor Allen South Africa Durban AC 10 1950–1961 Jackie Mekler South Africa Germiston Callies Harriers 10 1952–1969 Shaun Meiklejohn South Africa Carlton Harriers / Collegians Harriers / MAXED Elite KZN 10 1989–1999 Andrew Kelehe South Africa Rentmeester Fattis and Monis / Liberty Nike AC 10 1997–2006 Fusi Nhlapo South Africa Liberty Nike AC / MAXED Elite CGA 10 2000–2012 Hoseah Tjale South Africa – 9 1980–1990 Nick Bester South Africa – 9 1988–1997 Stephen Muzhingi Zimbabwe – 9 2007–2015 Allen Boyce South Africa – 8 1936–1956 Gordon Baker South Africa – 8 1967–1974 Hardy Ballington South Africa – 7 1932–1947 Gerald Walsh South Africa – 7 1952–1960 Charl Mattheus South Africa – 7 1988–1998 Oleg Kharitonov Russia – 7 2002–2008 Vladimir Kotov / Belarus – 7 2000–2008 Mncedisi Mkhize South Africa – 7 2006–2016 Claude Moshiywa South Africa – 7 2005–2016 Ludwick Mamabolo South Africa – 7 2010–2017 Gift Kelehe South Africa – 7 2011–2023
+ Runners with 7 or More Comrades Gold Medals – Women Athlete Nation Club (if local) Gold Medals Medal Span Elena Nurgalieva Russia – 13 2003–2015 Marina Zhalybina Russia – 12 1999–2013 Maria Bak Germany – 11 1995–2008 Farwa Mentoor South Africa 10 2002–2011 Olesya Nurgalieva Russia – 10 2003–2015 Valentina Shatyayeva Russia – 9 1994–2002 Yolande Maclean South Africa 9 2003–2022 Grace De Oliveira South Africa 7 1999–2007 Gerda Steyn South Africa 7 2017–2026 Alexandra Morozova Russia 7 2017–2025
Most top 10 finishes by women The following women have finished in the top 10 of the women's race on 7 or more occasions in the race history. Given the top 10 women only received gold medals from 1998, the gold medals list doesn't fully reflect the history of the women's race as female contenders in the 1980s and early 90s were competing for fewer gold medals relative to the men.
+ Women with the Most Top 10 Finishes at the Comrades Marathon Top 10 Finishes Athlete Nation Club (if listed) Years active 13 Elena Nurgalieva Russia – 2003–2015 12 Marina Zhalybina Russia – 1999–2013 11 Maria Bak Germany – 1995–2008 10 Farwa Mentoor South Africa Harmony AC / Bonitas AC 2002–2011 10 Olesya Nurgalieva Russia – 2003–2015 9 Tilda Tearle South Africa Savages AC 1986–1995 9 Valentina Shatyayeva Russia – 1994–2002 9 Yolande Maclean South Africa MAXED Elite CGA 2003–2022 8 Priscilla Carlisle South Africa Rand AC 1981–1989 8 Ralie Smit South Africa Pretoria Marathon Club 1980–1989 8 Hazel Hairs South Africa Jeppe Quondam AC 1983–1990 7 Sanet Beukes South Africa Westville AC 1992–1998 7 Grace De Oliveira South Africa MAXED Elite KZN 1999–2007 7 Gerda Steyn South Africa MAXED Elite KZN 2017–2026
International (non-African) gold medallists As the race is the pinnacle of the South African distance running calendar (with significant prize money), local elite athletes will target the event year-after-year, so there are fewer international gold medalists. World class international athletes may target the Comrades from time to time but not on a consistent basis like South African athletes. Achieving even a single gold medal for an international athlete is a significant achievement overcoming local athletes in their premier event. The following non-African international runners have won 2 or more gold medals (winners in bold):
+ International (Non-African) Runners with 2+ Gold Medals – Men Athlete Nation Gold Medals Medal Span Oleg Kharitonov Russia 7 2002–2008 Vladimir Kotov* Belarus 7 2000–2008 Alexi Volgin Russia 6 1995–2001 Jaroslaw Janicki Poland 5 1997–2008 Grigory Murzin Russia 5 1999–2008 Leonid Schvetsov Russia 5 2001–2012 Dmitri Grishin Russia 4 1996–2001 Piet Wiersma Netherlands 4 2023–2026 Dave Levick New Zealand 3 1971–1975 Jorge Aubeso Spain 3 2002–2004 Jonas Buud Sweden 3 2011–2014 Alex Milne United Kingdom 3 2024–2026 Mick Orton United Kingdom 2 1972–1973 John McBrearty New Zealand 2 1973–1975 Charly Doll Germany 2 1993–1994 Peter Camenzind Switzerland 2 1994–1997 Konstantin Santalov Russia 2 1997–1999 Mikhail Kokorev Russia 2 1996–2000 Anatoliy Korepanov Russia 2 1999–2000 Don Wallace Australia 2 2000–2002 Steve Way / England 2 2017–2018
- Kotov subsequently naturalised as a South African citizen
+ International (Non-African) Runners with 2+ Gold Medals – Women Athlete Nation Gold Medals Medal Span Elena Nurgalieva Russia 13 2003–2015 Marina Zhalybina Russia 12 1999–2013 Maria Bak Germany 11 1995–2008 Olesya Nurgalieva Russia 10 2003–2015 Valentina Shatyayeva Russia 9 1994–2002 Alexandra Morozova Russia 7 2017–2025 Tatiana Zhirkova Russia 6 2003–2009 Marina Myshlyanova Russia 6 2005–2010 Elvira Kolpakova Russia 5 2000–2005 Dominika Stelmach Poland 5 2019–2025 Valentina Liakhova Russia 4 1994–1998 Ellie Greenwood / Canada 4 2011–2015 Caitriona Jennings Ireland 4 2019–2025 Joasia Zakrzewski / Scotland 3 2012–2015 Devon Yanko USA 3 2012–2018 Sarah Bard USA 3 2016–2018 Courtney Olsen USA 3 2024–2026 Ann Trason USA 2 1996–1997 Birgit Lennartz Germany 2 1999–2000 Maria Venancio Brazil 2 1999–2001 Alena Vinitskaya Russia 2 2003–2007 Kami Semick USA 2 2010–2011 Lizzy Hawker / Switzerland 2 2010–2011 Natalia Volgina Russia 2 2002–2012 Simona Staicu Hungary 2 2003–2015 Camille Herron USA 2 2017–2022
Most Wally Hayward medals Wally Hayward BEM is a legendary figure in the history of the Comrades Marathon, winning the race on 5 occasions, the first at the age of 21 in 1930, to become the youngest ever winner (a record that still stands). He would win a further 4 times from 1950 to 1954 (with a break in 1952), becoming the then-oldest winner as well aged 45 (only Vladimir Kotov has won at an older age when he did so in 2004).
He was the first Comrades Marathon winner to run under 6-hours when he won the race for the 4th time in 1953, hence the cut-off time for his namesake medal. In 1953 he would also set a new course record for the London to Brighton Marathon as well as world track records for 50 miles, 100 miles and 24 hours.
Between his Comrades wins he would represent South Africa at the 1938 Empire Games, finishing 4th over 3 miles and winning the bronze medal over 6 miles, and the 1952 Summer Olympics (finishing 10th in the marathon behind race-winner Emil Zatopek). He was also awarded the British Empire Medal for brave actions during WW2 in North Africa at El Alamein. Wally Hayward would likely have won the Comrades Marathon on more occasions had he not been advised by his doctor in 1931 to give up running (which he did for a while) as well as the hiatus due to WW2. He was also abruptly banned from amateur running from 1955 (until 1974) for accepting a small donation to cover travel expenses and so was deemed a professional athlete which ended his participation in the Comrades Marathon.