Gerda Steyn remains the undisputed Queen of the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon. After claiming her 7th straight title in Cape Town, she’s already eyeing the "Perfect 10." Photo: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Image: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Gerda Steyn may have extended her remarkable reign with a seventh consecutive Two Oceans Ultra Marathon title, but the South African icon made it clear after Saturday’s victory in Cape Town that she is far from finished.
Her latest triumph reinforces her status as the dominant force in the race, yet Steyn struck a notably reflective tone – balancing deep satisfaction with an honest acknowledgment that time is beginning to creep into the conversation.
“The goal (Saturday) for me was first of all to win a seventh consecutive Two Oceans in a row, so for that I’m very happy and I feel like I’ve achieved what I set out to do,” she said.
While the result adds another layer to an already glittering legacy, Steyn’s focus is no longer just on what she has achieved, but on how much longer she can sustain it and what she still hopes to build before the curtain eventually falls.
“I think we were quite unfortunate with the 2020 and 2021 events not being able to take place, so if it wasn't for that we would have been closer to the 10,” she reflected. “But when I won my first Two Oceans, I never envisaged winning seven.”
That sense of perspective shapes how she now approaches her career. Rather than chasing milestones, Steyn prefers a measured, year-by-year outlook.
“I take it year for year. It's not advisable, in my opinion, to look at it as this big picture where I'm trying to reach a certain goal,” she said. “If I’m here next year and ready and fit, then I’ll push for sure.”
Still, the reality of ageing is something she no longer ignores.
“I also need to accept the fact that I’m getting older, so I don’t know how long my career will last.”
Yet, if that sounds like a concession, her broader message suggests the opposite. At 36-years old, and with four Comrades Marathon titles also to her name, Steyn insists she remains as driven, and as capable, as ever.
“For now I feel as strong as I've ever been, and I definitely feel I have a few more years in me to compete at the highest level,” she said. “So, if seven becomes eight and eight becomes 10, then I’ll take it.”
That quiet ambition is underpinned not just by results, but by a deep sense of fulfilment in her craft. Unlike many athletes at a similar stage of their careers, Steyn has no desire to reinvent herself or chase new disciplines.
“When it comes to goals and aspirations, what I'm doing now is so fulfilling and I don't feel I'm at a point in my career where I'm still looking for something else, or trying new or different distances,” she said. “I know what I’m doing now, I love it, and I want to keep doing it for as long as I possibly can.”
Instead, her focus is on refinement – extracting even marginal gains in a space she has already mastered.
“Hopefully, in that spectrum that I’ve chosen to put my attention on, I can still improve myself in those areas.”
Beyond competition, Steyn is also beginning to look ahead to the legacy she will leave behind. While her performances continue to define the present, her influence may yet stretch further into the future.
“Off the field, something that would be really meaningful to me is to play a part in the next generation’s development,” she said.
For now, though, her rivals remain firmly in her sights. And if there was any doubt about her intentions, her words served as a clear reminder that the queen of Two Oceans is not ready to relinquish her crown. If anything, she is still chasing what comes next.