Media Release: Executive Mayor of GRDM donates R10 000 to local athlete to participate in Ultra 2023 World Championship

For immediate release
26 October 2023

Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Ald. Memory Booysen, recently donated R10 000 to local Backyard Ultra-Running athlete, Tembinkosi Sojola, to participate in the Ultra 2023 World Champions. The championship started on 21 October 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee in the United States of America and concluded on Wednesday, 25 October 2023.

In an update received from the Bayethe Multisport Academy, Sojola has achieved a remarkable feat by establishing a new South African and African Record. With the event that started off with 75, Tembi’s Race came to an end at lap 56 with a total of 368.83km after 2 days and 7 hours of running, he is now ranked 90th in the World.

Thirty-nine-year-old Sojola, a resident of George is, apart from his passion for the sport, also a husband and father of four (4).

Sojola annually also participates in the Comrades and Two Oceans Marathons.  The passion has fuelled his desire to participate in this world-class event, where he represented South Africa in the USA. This was the first event where he competed against other countries.

Myra Tisch, supporter of Sojola at the event, thanked all those who supported Sojola during the championship”. Tisch explained: “He had problems with his hip flexor for over 30-hours and pushed through the pain. There were several moments of doubt, but he trusted himself and his capabilities and pushed beyond even when the pain was there to stop him”.  Tisch described Sojola as an incredible athlete, beautiful person and hard-working family man. “Let us all thank the Lord above for protecting our friend/dad/husband through the biggest tribulation of his life!” Tisch concluded: “This is a time to rejoice his accomplishment”.

Mayor Booysen, on behalf of GRDM, wished him the best going forward especially with this achievement of now being ranked 90th globally.

Tembinkosi Sojola now holds the South African and African Record with an open invitation to the German Backyard Ultra in 2024.

ENDS