Gerda Steyn Streaks to Sixth Consecutive Two Oceans Marathon Title

Gerda Steyn extends her record streak to an astounding sixth successive Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon titles, the Hollywood Athletics runner once again dominant in the race that saw her lead from the start to an unchallenged finishing tape in Cape Town on Saturday, 5 April 2025. 

Steyn set out with a blistering pace to start to the race, quickly to the 10 kilometres mark and in true Gerda fashion, she maintained her pace to solidify her advantage as a top runner in the iconic event. 

The sounds of fans cheering fervently as she made her way to the finish at the University of Cape Town’s rugby field and the running star blew kisses to the adoring crowd, and punching the air in triump as she crossed the line as the winner to clock a time of 3:29:11. 

Speaking of SuperSport after her win, Steyn spoke about maintaining her winning streak. 

“I am so proud to be here and be able to use my God-given talent, and to enjoy it in the way that I do, is nothing but a blessing. I am thankful for how today played out.” 

Six-Time Total Sport Two Oceans Marathon Champion, Gerda Steyn

She said that her race strategy worked from the start, meaning that she was not really pushed to her limit. “I planned to go a little bit faster in the first half of the face, and I wanted to be around a minute quicker than I was last year, which is a big amount to take off, and I was right on plan.”

“So it worked and it made everyone else quite tired, so for me to open a gap early on was quite relaxing for me. I had the lead and I had information from the route that the gap was increasing, so it was in a way relaxing not having that real motivation to push me to my limit, but like I said, I am 100% grateful and happy with the result.” 

This year the title sponsors Totalsports dangled a major carrot with a R250 000 incentive for breaking the record but Steyn says completing this feat was not top of mind.

“Today I feel it was 100% success and you can’t always keep breaking records, it’s just not how life works. For me to take to the sixth victory in a row is a 10 out of 10, and I am grateful for how it played out today.”

Saturday’s race proved that Steyn is the darling of South African running and she says the support is something she is so appreciative of. 

“I cannot put into words, from the first kilometre and to the last kilometre, it has just been ‘Go, Gerda, Go!’ It is a shower of support, and I hope with my performance today I can share it with that amount of support that I have received.”

Kenya’s Shelmith Muriuki was second finishing with a time of 3:37:51 as Neheng Khatala of Lesotho was third coming in a time of 3:40:39.

Leading Elite Women’s Finishers at the 2025 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon

1. Gerda Steyn (RSA) 03:29:11
2. Shelmith Muriuki (KEN) 03:37:51
3. Neheng Khatala (LSO) 03:40:39
4. Carla Natalia Molinaro (GBR) 03:43:45
5. Dikeledi Majara (LSO) 03:46:24
6. Nobuhle Tshuma (ZIM) 03:51:13
7. Worke Amena (ETH) 03:51:57
8. Meseret Biru (ETH) 03:53:19
9. Landie Greyling (RSA) 03:57:39
10. Deanné Laubscher (RSA) 03:59:12

Main Photo Caption: Gerda Steyn extends her record streak to an astounding sixth successive Two Oceans Marathon titles, the Hollywood Athletics runner once again dominant in the race that saw her lead from the start to an unchallenged finishing tape in Cape Town on Saturday, 5 April 2025. Photo: Total Sports Two Oceans Marathon

Photo 2 Caption: Gerda Steyn received huge crowd support recording an astounding sixth straight Two Oceans Marathon win. Photo: Total Sports Two Oceans Marathon 

Photo 3 Caption: Steyn had a comfortable race, leading from the start and finishing in a time of 3:29:11. Photo: Total Sports Two Oceans Marathon