Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
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4 Aug 1996: Josia Thugwane of South Africa celebrates as he enters the stadium during the men’s marathon at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Thugwane won gold. (Mike Powell /Allsport via Getty Images)
1904 OLYMPICS

Understanding the legacy of South Africa’s first Olympic marathon runners

Two black South African runners were among the first from the continent to compete in the 1904 games in the United States

  • Francois Cleophas
7 min read
Race: Len Tau (left) and Jan Mashiani of South Africa participated in the 1904 Olympic marathon but didn’t officially represent the country. Photo: Missouri History Museum
BW HARRIS

Who were the first Africans at the Olympics?

The story of two marathon runners in the 1904 Games held in the US exposes the racist and colonial attitudes of the day

  • Francois Cleophas
6 min read