Starting today, the 2025 Berg River Marathon starts, and one of the race’s legends, Oom Jannie, is heading for a massive record.
Western Cape, South Africa (02 July 2025) – There are many kinds of heroes in the world, some wear medals, some write books, and some, like Oom Jannie Malherbe, who just quietly keeps paddling.
This week, if all goes well, 85-year-old “Oom Jannie” will complete his 52nd Berg River Canoe Marathon, setting a new record for the most finishes in the history of the iconic race. It’s a feat of endurance and spirit made even more remarkable by the fact that he’ll be doing it with a broken rib.
“I fell against a table a few days ago,” he says casually, “but funnily enough, there is no discomfort when I paddle. Actually, I have done it before with a broken rib.”
That kind of understatement sums up Oom Jannie. The George-based paddler has been on this river since 1962, finishing fourth in the inaugural race before going on to win the next three. He’s paddled through decades of change, in the country, in the sport, and in his own life, but the river, he says, still feels like home.
“For me, it’s like a holiday,” he smiles. “A total break from work, people and cellphones.”
He trains mostly on flat water now and jokes that his only competition in the age group categories is himself. “I’m sure to win,” he chuckles, “because I’m the only competitor in my age group!”
But make no mistake, this is no gentle river stroll. The Berg River Marathon is four days of cold, wet, and gruelling paddling from Paarl to Velddrif. Oom Jannie knows it intimately, and still, it calls him back every year.
This year, though, will carry a bittersweet note. Until now, he shared the record with Giel van Deventer, his dear friend and fellow paddler, who tragically lost his life on the Breede River in 2022.
“Giel and I were great friends,” Oom Jannie reflects. “We paddled for years together — I sold him his first canoe and used to stay at his home often. But to be honest, I’m not really paddling to break records… I’ll be doing something I love, and it just happens that this time, I’ll break the record.”
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Marco Jansen Looks Back on His Ridiculous One-Handed CatchHis story is not one of fame or fuss. It’s one of loyalty, to a sport, a river, and a life of purposeful movement. He’s won national titles, seen the introduction of wing paddles, and watched as tree blocks and water levels shape new stories on an old river. But some things, he says, haven’t changed at all.
“As long as I’m healthy, I’ll keep paddling,” he laughs, and somehow, that feels like the most powerful kind of ambition there is.
So, if you find yourself on the banks of the Berg this week, cheer a little louder. Because somewhere in the current, an 85-year-old man is chasing more than a finish line, he’s chasing joy, friendship, and the quiet magic of just keeping going.
More information about the race can be found at https://berg.org.za/
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