Johannes Mosehla

An ultrarunner who shows that endurance and consistency can push the boundaries of age.

Basic data

Johannes Mosehla from South Africa completed the Comrades Marathon at the age of 84, improving his own record as the oldest finisher in the history of the legendary ultramarathon.

Age

84 years

Country

South Africa

Top achievement

The oldest finisher in Comrades Marathon history — he completed the race at the age of 84.

Video

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Story

Johannes Mosehla is a South African ultrarunner from Limpopo, associated with Polokwane Athletics Club / Polokwane Running Club. He became widely recognized through his performances at the Comrades Marathon, one of the world’s most iconic ultramarathons.

In 2026, at the age of 84, Mosehla completed the Comrades Marathon in 11:12:27, improving his own record as the oldest finisher in the history of the race. One year earlier, in 2025, he finished the same event at the age of 83, and in 2023 he was widely reported as the 81-year-old record breaker who surpassed the previous mark set by the legendary Wally Hayward.

According to available sources, Mosehla began his Comrades Marathon journey only in 2005, at around 63 years old. Earlier, during apartheid, Black runners did not have the same opportunities to take part in the event. This gives his late but remarkably consistent running career an additional dimension: it is not only a story of endurance, but also a story of reclaiming opportunities that had once been denied.

Training

Mosehla is an example of an athlete whose achievements are not built on a short burst of motivation, but on long-term consistency. Available sources highlight his regular training, mental resilience, and ability to stay active despite advanced age.

The Comrades Marathon is an ultradistance race that requires not only aerobic endurance, but also musculoskeletal durability, running economy, pacing strategy, and the ability to cope with accumulating fatigue. Finishing such a race in the 80+ age range shows how powerful long-term fitness development can be.

Philosophy

Mosehla’s story is especially inspiring because it shows that athletic identity does not have to belong only to youth. His example expands the imagination of what may still be possible in the eighth and ninth decades of life.

This is not a story of “easy” aging. It is a story of consistency, patience, and maintaining a goal despite limitations. Mosehla shows that age may change pace, recovery, and preparation, but it does not have to remove ambition or the sense of agency.

Achievements

In 2026, he completed the Comrades Marathon at the age of 84 in 11:12:27.
He improved his own record as the oldest finisher in Comrades Marathon history.
In 2025, he completed the Comrades Marathon as an 83-year-old.
In 2023, at the age of 81, he was reported as the oldest finisher in Comrades Marathon history, breaking the previous record held by Wally Hayward.
According to Canadian Running, he has completed the Comrades Marathon 13 times.
He continued racing at Comrades despite starting his journey with the event only after the age of 60.

Takeaways

Johannes Mosehla shows that athletic longevity is not only about avoiding disease, but also about preserving function, purpose, and mental resilience. His story is a powerful reminder that the body adapts to what we consistently ask of it.

The key lesson from his example is that age should not automatically become a reason to abandon ambitious goals. It may require a wiser pace, more patience, and better recovery, but it does not have to mean the end of progress.