Time after time IRONMAN athletes prove that anything is possible. One such athlete is 46-year-old local Nelson Mandela Bay triathlete, Kura Mazongo. On Sunday, November 21 he finished the 2021 IRONMAN African Championship in the time of 14:01:44. A race that was described as one of the toughest as athletes had to contend with rough seas and strong wind conditions on the bike and run courses. What impressed me most was not that he finished the race but the manner in which he did it, especially considering his lack of financial stability and sporting resources.
Zimbabwean born, Kura moved to South Africa in 2007 and has resided in Nelson Mandela Bay ever since, where he stays with his wife and three kids. He works as a petrol attendant at a local Engen fueling station in Mount Pleasant. Becoming an IRONMAN has been a dream of his and after taking part in four Comrades marathons and four Two Oceans events, he decided to defy all odds and chase the IRONMAN red carpet. He fulfilled his dream this past Sunday, becoming an IRONMAN.
After finishing the event in just over 14 hours on Sunday, Kura got a lift home with one of the friendly athletes. He arrived home after 22h00 and had to be at work at 06h00 the following morning, “I was so tired, but I was excited to show my colleagues, employers and customers my IRONMAN finisher medal. This was not to show off, I was very proud to have reached my dream and wanted to show everyone that supported me that I did it.”
His story is one that inspires and so I was eager to know more by chatting with him after one of his work shifts:
Kura, how did you get into the sport of triathlon?
The thought of getting into the sport initially came about in 2018. I spoke to some of the friends I was running with at the time to see if they thought triathlon was a viable option for me. I was told that it took a lot of commitment to do triathlon, that it was a time intensive sport. However, I was still interested in the sport despite hearing about the obstacles I would face if I pursued this dream of being a triathlete.
So, in 2019 I taught myself to ride a bike for the first time ever in my life. I did not know how to ride a bike, so that’s where I thought my starting point should be. My current boss taught me how to use cycling cleats that same week. I then went to a guy named Hanson Singaphi, at a local bike shop, and he took me on a ride which helped with my confidence. Hanson then mentioned that I would need to learn how to swim and practice often if I want to do the sport, especially if I wanted to enter an IRONMAN race.
So, who then taught you to swim?
A guy named Jono who stays in Cape Town. He gave me advise over the phone on what type of exercises I would have to do, and he told me to get a pool noodle then join a local gym and start swimming. I had to pay R20 a day to get into the gym and after a while this got too expensive for me, so I stopped and went to the ocean at Sardinia Bay. When I got there, I saw a sign saying no lifeguards where available. I was tempted to go in, but I saw that the current was strong, so I went to the next beach instead. When I got to the next beach, I saw there were lifeguards, so I felt it was safe to start swimming, but I struggled. I then got out the water and went to one of the lifeguards who referred me to a swim coach.
I contacted the coach and once he saw my eagerness and willingness to learn he did not charge me. However, I had to go when he was not filled with paying clients as he was extremely busy, so I ended up going back to the beach to practice there. One day while trying to swim, I bumped into another lifeguard, mister Mike Du Toit, who showed me some swimming drills and tips. When I felt like I was ready, I ventured down to Hobie Beach where the old IRONMAN African Championship swim start use to be. I went into the sea and swam about 500 metres, I was feeling brave that day.
A few days later, I was doing hill repeats and this guy stopped on the side of the road and spoke to me. He told me that I looked fit and encouraged me to follow my dream of doing a triathlon. He then went out to get a sponsor for me so that I could get an entry for the IRONMAN African Championship, but he made me promise to practice my swimming and biking. Since I did not have my own bicycle, he looked around and found a second hand one for me. I was so grateful, I had never owned a bike before.
Speaking of bikes, we heard that you have had so much bad luck in this department, care to elaborate?
One day [in 2020] I was doing an early evening training bike ride, and someone crashed into me. I had the right of way, but the gentleman did not stop at the Stop Sign. I was shaken up and scared. I do not know how I survived that, I got thrown over the bonnet of the car and onto the floor. I also had to find another bike because the one I was riding with was badly damaged during the crash.
When I started fundraising for another bike, people did not believe that I was going to use the money to buy a bike so I can take part in IRONMAN. I heard people saying that I did not look like a triathlete, that I looked unfit, and I was just going to use the money for something else. This really hurt me. Fortunately, IRONMAN South Africa gave me a proof of entry letter that helped with my fundraising.
I managed to raise R 7 000 to get a bike but then it got stolen three weeks before this year’s IRONMAN African Championship event while I was at work. I was devastated and stressed all week. Luckily, Paul Wolff from IRONMAN South Africa lent me a bike to use for the event.
What a story. Let’s quickly rewind back to the COVID-19 national lockdown. How did you get through this?
It was difficult to train during lockdown. I had to train during certain hours, and I had to juggle those hours with my work, it was extremely difficult. However, I cycled and ran everyday to and back from work between my two shifts. I did not belong to a gym so I had to wait for the beaches to be open so I could practice my swim. I was fortunate to be given a secondhand wetsuit from one of the friendly people in my community. I have been lucky to bump into the right people throughout this journey. People have been so kind to me [he explains with tears running across his face]. The Nelson Mandela Bay community has helped me with a lot of things that I needed.
And how did you get into running?
Running has always been a passion of mine. During my school years, I was a sprinter. I ran the 100 metre distance and had a personal best time of 10.34 seconds. I stopped running for a couple years after school, and it has only been recently that I had the desire to run again as I was feeling very lonely at home. One evening, I decided to go outside and go for a light jog. I ended up running around 15-kilometres and still felt good. I was surprised so I started running more often. I then joined a local running club and ran my first 10-kilometre race in 36 minutes.
Take us through the IRONMAN African Championship that you participated in this past Sunday How did you find the swim?
Wow! That was very tough. The ocean conditions were bad, the current was even moving buoys, but I enjoyed it because I trained enough to face that. The organizers shortened the swim, which was a good call by them, I even heard they gave people an option not to swim and just start with the bike. I did not want that option because I was confident in my training and abilities, it was my dream to do the swim, so I did it.
And the bike leg, how did you find that?
The second loop on the bike leg for me was tough, that is when I experienced what being an IRONMAN athlete means. This was even tougher than the swim. First lap was easy, but second lap was gruesome [he laughs].
And the run portion? How did you find that?
To be honest I am a good runner, but it is tough running after swimming and biking at an IRONMAN. The first 10km of the run I walked. After I got my breath back and got into a rhythm, so I started running. I enjoyed the run leg though.
Are you planning on doing another IRONMAN race again after what you went through this weekend?
Yes, definitely! I hope I can be on that start line in April next year. I cannot wait for that; I am going to train to better my time. I have a lot to work on the bike, so I am going to save to get a bike because mine was stolen and I am currently borrowing one from the IRONMAN organizers. I want my own bike so I can take on the next event, I cannot wait.
What an inspirational man. Just love telling and bringing to light these type of stories. Well done Kura!
