Oom Jannie Malherbe made history at the 2025 Berg River Canoe Marathon, becoming the first paddler to complete 52 races.
Velddrift, South Africa (07 July 2025) – The 2025 Berg River Canoe Marathon will be remembered for many reasons: a strong headwind on the final stretch, another elite win for Hank McGregor, and the tight camaraderie between top paddlers. But perhaps the most remarkable moment of all came not at the front of the pack, but behind it, where 85-year-old Jannie Malherbe, known fondly as “Oom Jannie”, crossed the finish line to complete his record-breaking 52nd Berg River Canoe Marathon.
In a sport where most would be proud to finish even once, Oom Jannie has now paddled more than four full decades’ worth of races, having taken part in 52 out of the 63 events held since the marathon’s inception. And he’s not just a fixture of endurance, he’s also a former champion, having won the race three years in a row in 1963, 1964, and 1965.
This year’s achievement was bittersweet, as it sets him apart from his late friend and fellow paddling legend, Giel van Deventer, with whom he previously shared the 51-finish record. Their bond and shared love of the river made them icons of the event, and this year, Oom Jannie paddled not just for himself, but for the memory of a lifelong friend.
This year, the Berg was as tough as ever. The final day brought a strong headwind and an unhelpful incoming tide, which didn’t make the finish line any easier to reach. But for paddlers like McGregor, and for Oom Jannie too, it’s never been about ease, it’s about the experience.
“It was a magic day,” said 14-time champion Hank McGregor, who paddled to victory with teammate Siseko Ntondini on his wave. “There was quite a strong headwind in the last five kilometres and the incoming tide didn’t help, but we had a great day. It was great paddling with my teammate Siseko.”
Oom Jannie, who once joked he’d win his age category simply by being the only one in it, now stands alone in another way, as the most seasoned paddler the Berg has ever seen. A man who once described the event as a holiday from cellphones and stress, he once again proved that age is no barrier when passion is your compass.
And while the river’s channels may shift each year, one thing remains steady: Oom Jannie’s paddle in the water, and his unshakeable place in Berg River Marathon history.
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