From surviving Bone Marrow Cancer, and overcoming a drug addiction to completing the Comrades Marathon on crutches… this is Xolani Luvuno’s incredible story!
It’s a story that inspired the nation.
Xolani Luvuno pursued his dream and completed the Comrades Marathon this year, but what caught the attention of South Africa is that the talented runner did the entire gruelling race on crutches!
The incredible athlete completed the Comrades Marathon on his crutches just before 4.30pm on the day.
Luvuno had this to say at the finish line: “I wanted to make sure that I finish before cut-off time and my coach said to me don’t rush because the Comrades Marathon is not 42km, it’s a big race. I want to say thank you to the supporters who cheered for me on the routes as well as the director of the Comrades Marathon for giving me this chance.”
South Africans first got to know Xolani in May last year after renowned South African advocate for change, Yusuf Abramjee, spotted the runner and stopped to speak to him to find out why he was running with crutches.
But what seems like a massive achievement is not the biggest mountain that Xolani has climbed in his life.
The incredible South African survived bone marrow cancer and a little over 2 years ago, was a drug addict who by then had been homeless, living under a bridge in Pretoria for 7 years.
Running has indeed enabled him to turn his life around!
Good Things Guy caught up with Xolani to talk about his inspiring run; his strength and determination and his next epic challenge.
He’s described running as his “new addiction” and says he was given the break that led to him turning his life around by Hein Venter, who helped him get off the streets and into running. He even opens up about the medal debacle and chats about his triumph over adversity.
Listen to the full interview here…
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