Stephen Muzhingi
| Athlete Stephen Muzhingi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Stephen Muzhingi October 17, 1980 |
| Nationality | Zimbabwe |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2008 to present |
| Spouse(s) | Erina Muzhingi nee Magwaza |
| Children | Methane Muzhingi |
Stephen Muzhingi is a long distance runner. He broke the record amongst long distance runners by winning the Comrades Marathon race three consecutive times (2009 to 2011).
Background
Muzhingi is said to have been born on 17 October 1980 although his birth certificate shows that he was born on 17 October 1975. He argued that, when he went with his late mother, Siyai to get a birth certificate in 1993, the officials who attended to them made a mistake.[1] His father died when he was in Grade Two and his mother, Siyai died in 2010.[2] Muzhingi is married to Erina Magwaza and the couple has a son, Methane.
Career
He began his career as a long distance runner in 2008 when he participated in the Comrades Marathon Race (the world's largest and greatest ultra-marathon race) which is held in South Africa. In 2008, he came third in the competition and he was signed by Bluff Meats club in South Africa which began to train him.[3]
Under the tutelage of Cliff Chinasammy, who was his manager, Muzhingi won the Comrades Marathon race three consecutive times (2009-2011) becoming the first person to do so in the history of the marathon. For this, Muzhingi was nicknamed, 'King of the Comrades'.[4] In 2012, he also became the second person to hold both the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and the Comrades Marathon titles simultaneously.[5] The first man to do so before Muzhingi was Derek Presis in 1974.[5]
From 2012 to the present, Muzhinji has been performing dismally in the Comrades Marathon Competition. In 2012, Muzhinji's manager claimed that Muzhinji failed to retain his Comrades Marathon gold medal because of a domestic dispute. Muzhinji and his wife quarrelled on how the money from Muzhinji's triumph at the 2012 edition of the competition was to be disbursed.[6] Muzhinji cited that his former club, Bluff Meats had however sabotaged him.[7]
In 2013, Muzhinji finished the race in 10th position.[8] Despite failing to win the title for the fourth time, he was satisfied with his performance. He also argued that he was still recovering from a calf injury. His manager Craig Fry also substantiated Muzhingi's story arguing that he was still in pain when he participated in the competition. After failing to win the Comrades Marathon, he began to prepare for the Nelson Mandela Day Marathon which was held on 25 August.[9] He also failed to make it. In 2014, Muzhingi came forth in the competition.[10]
Accolades
- Comrades marathon winners medal x3
- Zimbabwe Sports person of the year (2011)
Trivia
He was once a barber in Chitungwiza.
References
- ↑ Stephen Muzhingi’s stunning age revelation, The Standard, published:20 Nov 2011,retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ Stephen Muzhingi Marathon Runner Millionaire from Barber, The African Millionaire, Published:Nov 2011, Retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ Is this the end of Stephen Muzhingi?, Daily News, published:5 Jun 2013,retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ Chris Ncube, Best of the Best : Stephen Muzhingi, The Zimbabwean, published:17 Dec 2013,retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 STEPHEN MUZHINGI, Who's Who Southern Africa, published:2011,retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ Zimbabwe: 'Row Disrupted Muzhingi', All Africa, published:1 Jun 2013,retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ Muzhingi optimistic ahead of Comrades Marathon, NewsDay, published:22 May 2013,retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ Muzhingi struggles at Comrades Marathon, NewsDay, published:3 Jun 2013,retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ Henry Mhara, Muzhingi set for Nelson Mandela marathon, NewsDay, published:12 Jul 2013,retrieved:20 January 2015"
- ↑ Noel Munzabwa, Muzhingi fails at Comrades Marathon, The Herald, published:2 Jun 2014,retrieved:20 January 2015"
