GERDA THE GREAT!

The Unstoppable Smiling Assassin: Why Gerda Steyn Is Already The Greatest

When the starting gun fired at the 2026 Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, the air was thick with expectation. The route, famously dubbed the most beautiful marathon in the world, is an absolute beast that has broken countless elite athletes. Yet, for Gerda Steyn, the gruelling 56-kilometre stretch over Chapman's Peak and Constantia Nek has essentially become a victory lap.

Crossing the finish line to secure an unprecedented seventh consecutive victory, she did not just break the tape. She completely shattered any remaining debate.

Forget the polite arguments about eras and varying race conditions. Gerda Steyn is already the greatest female long-distance runner South Africa, and arguably the world, has ever produced.

Seven Consecutive Titles: A Feat of Absurd Dominance

To put seven consecutive Two Oceans victories into perspective, you have to look at the sheer unpredictability of ultra-marathon running. One bad cramp, a slight misjudgement in pacing, or a sudden change in the Cape's notorious weather can derail a whole year of obsessive training.

Yet, Steyn has built a dynasty on pure, unadulterated consistency. Since her maiden victory in 2018, no other woman has touched the trophy, accounting for the pandemic cancellations. She clocked an astonishing 3:27:43 this year, dismantling a highly competitive international field and finishing over six minutes ahead of her closest rival.

She makes the extraordinary look entirely routine. While her competitors are desperately fighting the severe elevation changes, Steyn is famously blowing kisses to the crowd, a habit that earned her the brilliant nickname of the 'Smiling Assassin'.

The Greatest of All Time? Absolutely.

This is where the spiky, undeniable truth comes in. We often hesitate to label athletes as the absolute greatest while they are still actively competing, preferring to wait until their careers are neatly boxed into history. But with Steyn, waiting feels like an insult to what we are witnessing right now.

She does not just win; she obliterates long-standing records. She holds the astonishing down-run record for the 90-kilometre Comrades Marathon and became the first woman to break the six-hour barrier on the notoriously difficult up-run. Add her staggering times on the global stage, including her national record-breaking performances in Valencia, and her resume is completely unmatched.

When you combine her outright speed over a standard marathon with her seemingly superhuman endurance over the ultra distances, there is simply no historical comparison.

How Far Can She Go?

The most terrifying prospect for her competitors is that she shows absolutely zero signs of slowing down. Having watched her post-race interviews this weekend, the hunger is still blindingly obvious. She has openly stated that if seven becomes eight, and eight becomes ten, she will happily take it.

So, what records will she eventually end up with when her career finally comes to a close?

• The Double-Digit Dream: Ten Two Oceans titles is no longer a mathematical fantasy; it is a highly probable reality. At 36 years old, she still has several prime years ahead of her.

• Comrades Immortality: She will undoubtedly target further course records at the Comrades Marathon, aiming to set times that might remain untouched for a century.

• The Ultimate Benchmark: When she eventually retires, she will leave behind a set of times across the 42.2km, 56km, and 90km distances that will force the next generation of runners to completely rethink the limits of human endurance.

We are watching sporting royalty at the absolute peak of her powers. Gerda Steyn has turned the brutal roads of the Western Cape into her own private playground, and right now, we are all just incredibly lucky to be witnessing the reign.

Image credit: The Prorunner