On Monday morning, I was stunned to hear of the sudden passing of Cheryl Winn, the 1982 Comrades women’s champion, former Chair of the CMA Board, and, above all, a lifelong servant of the Comrades Marathon and South African road running.
For me, Cheryl was not only a towering figure in the history of this great race, but also someone who deeply touched and shaped my own journey with the Comrades.
My first encounter with Cheryl dates back to 2002, the year I lined up for my very first Comrades Marathon. It was the 77th running of the race, an “Up Run” from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, and like any novice, I was wide-eyed and nervous.
Cheryl, then handling media and marketing for the CMA, was already a figure of authority, grace, and compassion.
That year also marked the debut of Farwa Mentoor. Her outstanding fourth-place finish in 6 hours 41 minutes and 20 seconds, and status as the first South African woman home, was a story that stirred the whole Comrades community.
Yet, it was the 29-year-old Primary School Sports Assistant from the Cape Flats, remarkable backstory that captured the headlines.
She had sold the gold medal she won at the Two Oceans Marathon to Harmony Gold for just R3 000. Ironically it was the same company sponsoring elite athletes at Comrades.
With that money, she and her husband Anwar paid for petrol in their yellow Fiat Uno to drive from Cape Town to Durban, and for three days of meals and accommodation as she chased her Comrades dream.
Against all odds, she earned her gold medal on debut, while I claimed my bronze in 10 hours, 10 minutes, and 10 seconds.
When it emerged that Mentoor had not been seeded as an elite athlete despite her achievements, Cheryl stepped forward with the honesty and care that defined her.
She and her husband Mick Winn travelled to Cape Town to meet with Mentoor and myself, offering a heartfelt apology and ensuring that the situation was properly addressed in the media.
That gesture of accountability and care left a profound mark on me.
It was more than an administrative correction; it was a lesson in humanity, one that inspired me to keep running and writing about Comrades for the next two decades.
Cheryl encouraged me further, inviting me to contribute an article to the official Comrades Marathon magazine in 2003. That piece, “Comrades, an Investment in Life” has hung framed in my lounge for the past 20 years.
Whenever I need a reminder of resilience and purpose, I read its opening lines about Comrades embodying “life’s agony and ecstasy… about achieving impossible dreams.”
That inspiration is Cheryl’s gift to me; one I carry with every stride I take.
Beyond my personal journey, Cheryl’s contributions to Comrades and athletics were immense.
As an athlete, she ran the race six times between 1978 and 1984, never finishing lower than fifth, and famously won the women’s title in 1982.
But her impact extended far beyond the finish line. Together with Mick, she played a pivotal role in road running administration, serving the sport at every level.
Her dedication to Comrades was unmatched, from her years on the CMA Board to becoming, in 2017, the only former winner elected Chair.
Even after stepping down in 2021, she continued to guide the race through her work on multiple committees. It is no exaggeration to say she was the matriarch of the Comrades Marathon.
Cheryl’s passing, while on a family holiday pursuing her love of nature photography, feels like a light extinguished too soon. Yet the glow of her legacy remains in the lives she touched, the runners she inspired, and the race she helped preserve and nurture for generations.
As CMA Chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo said: “Cheryl’s legacy in this 104-year-old ultra marathon is unparalleled, and her passing is a devastating loss to the CMA family. She remains the Comrades Marathon’s matriarch.”
For me, Cheryl was not only a leader and champion, but also a friend and mentor. Her compassion, integrity, and love for the Comrades helped shape my own path as a runner and storyteller.
I will forever be grateful for the inspiration she provided, and for the reminder that the spirit of Comrades is not only about the miles we run, but about the humanity we share along the way.
Cheryl’s race may have ended, but her example and legacy will endure in every step taken on the road between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
May she rest in peace.
