Gerda Steyn bags 6th consecutive Two Oceans ultramarathon: 'I'm very grateful for the result'

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to record-breaking runner Gerda Steyn.

Listen below:

The Two Oceans Marathon returned to Cape Town on 5 and 6 April 2025.

The 56-kilometre ultramarathon took place on Saturday while the 21.1-kilometre half marathon happened on Sunday.

More than 31,000 runners took to Cape Town streets to participate in the race - among them was two-time Team SA Olympian Gerda Steyn, who blazed her way to a sixth successive win.

Also read: The story of Gerda Steyn... from quantity surveyor to record-breaking athlete

Gerda Steyn, Two Oceans Ultra Marathon record-breaker, focused on 5th consecutive win

Steyn crossed the finish line in a time of 3:29:11, more than eight minutes ahead of her closest competitor, Shelmith Muriuki of Kenya. 

She explains what this sixth win feels like and describes her non-traditional racing strategy.

"Every year I remember as if it was yesterday. Of course, it's been six years now but none of it has felt like it's all blended into one... Each has got their own special memory and special moment and I'm really grateful for the win on Saturday."

- Gerda Steyn

"My plan was to start at a very fast pace in the first half of the race... if you hear anyone telling you how to run a race, they will tell you to conserve your energy in the first half... But for me, it was all controlled and planned to go out a little bit faster than I have done in the past and try to open that gap between myself and the competitors early on... So, the plan worked. I executed what I set out to do and I'm very grateful for the result."

- Gerda Steyn

"The heat and temperature and any weather conditions are always something we must take into consideration. This year was warmer than in the past... for a record time, you want a cool climate and calm weather... the ultra-marathon is always a gruelling task to take on even in the best conditions... But with that, it's important to make sure you hydrate more and make sure you're comfortable for the full distance of the race."

- Gerda Steyn

What's Steyn chasing next? Improvement!

"There's always something else I want to chase or somewhere I can feel I can improve even if it's on my own previous experiences... the love that I've got for the run and the races, especially the Comrades and the Two Oceans, it's never faded and I want to return for many more years... and beat my own times and try to take the first position... For me, that's more than enough motivation to come back."

- Gerda Steyn

Congratulations to all runners who participated!

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the conversation.