Sibusiso Kubheka triumphantly broke the 6-hour 100km barrier, in an astonishing 5:59:20 (Photo: Courtesy of Adidas) 
Most days we feel surrounded by doom and gloom. Yet just when it starts to feel overwhelming, someone does something exceptional and reminds us how much talent lives here, in South Africa.
In September, Sibusiso Mncedisi Kubheka stunned the running world by becoming the first person to run 100km in under six hours.
style="font-weight: 400;">Adidas’ Chasing 100. Five athletes were selected from Lithuania, Japan, the US, Ethiopia and South Africa.
The race took place at the Nardò Ring in southern Italy, a 12km motor circuit. It started shortly after midnight to avoid the worst heat. Pacers supported the runners; a drone hovered for lighting; aid tables were strategically placed along the route and a lead car standardised the pace.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/701774.jpg "Chasing 100 - Athletes Training in Italy (Photo: Courtesy of Adidas)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/701828.jpg "Chasing 100 - Athletes Training in Italy (Photo: Courtesy of Adidas)")
South Africa’s 27-year-old Kubheka arrived without the usual trappings of “global contender” status.
It was his first trip to Europe and also his first 100km. He crossed the finishing line in 5:59:20, averaging 3 minutes 35 seconds per kilometre. Charles Lawrence of the US finished second in 6:03:04. Former world record holder Aleksandr Sorokin took third in 6:04:10. All three finished under Sorokin’s previous world record of 6:05:35 set in May 2023.
Kubheka’s running story starts far from headline sport. He was born in a small village called Mtshezi (KwaZulu-Natal) and raised in Daggakraal (Mpumalanga) with his dad, stepmother and seven siblings.
Sbu, as he’s known, grew up in a close-knit, affectionate family. Life was modest, there was little room for luxuries, but he carried a steady belief that God had a plan for him. He once imagined becoming an artist, but at his primary school the only options were soccer or running. Running came naturally, so he chose it.
Asked about his diet, he says he’s always eaten vegetables, fruit, bread and phuthu pap, with meat once or twice a week and the occasional English breakfast. These days, his favourites are imifino, a traditional leafy green, or salmon.
His outlook on life is much the same: steady, straightforward, without pretence. In 2019, his path began to shift; at a YMCA training camp, coach Xolani Mabhida spotted his potential. Mabhida, who has guided several world champions and Comrades Marathon runners, believes consistency and resilience matter as much as talent. Kubheka had both, and it showed from the start.
He joined the Excel Running Club, where Mabhida coaches, where the club provided him with a small stipend and access to doctors and physiotherapists. This gave him the freedom to commit to a personalised programme that blended sharper speed sessions with long runs and structured recovery. The partnership grew quickly.
Mabhida became a physical and spiritual mentor, who inspired Kubheka to persist even when the going got tough. After a strong 50km run at a Nedbank race in Gqeberha in 2021, Adidas scouts noticed him and invited him to join the Chasing 100 project.
The journey to success was not without obstacles.
In 2023 a serious hamstring injury forced him to stop running for nine months. The layoff taught him patience and humility, and also toughened his ability to handle pain.
Race day called for calm decisions. The plan was to sit behind the experienced runners until late, then move. At about 30km in, stomach trouble forced him to ease back. For a while, his goal looked unachievable. Thoughts of his family, the sacrifices they had made and what a win could mean encouraged him to push ahead. As time passed he slowly started rehydrating. At about 65km the cramps eased. Strength returned. The pace sharpened. He closed the gap steadily, then took the lead on the eighth and final lap. He never looked back.
Chasing 100 was an innovation showcase, not a World Athletics event, so the time will not stand as an official record.
The shoes were newly designed Adizero Evo Prime X, specially made for each runner’s biomechanics and body type. They have a 50mm stack height whereas the World Athletics limit is 40mm. Runners also wore specially fitted cooling vests and jackets, similar to those used by Formula 1 drivers, to regulate body temperature. Their shorts were designed TechFit, which Adidas says support stability and running efficiency. The specially designed clothing remains under wraps for now and Nel says lessons from the footwear and apparel will influence the design of an exciting new running range.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/701827.jpg "Chasing 100 - Athletes Training in Italy; the Adizero Evo Prime X shoes (Photo: Courtesy of Adidas)")
Kubheka’s run proved that covering 100km in under six hours is possible, even if the record isn’t official. With new sponsor interest and an undisclosed prize purse, his prospects are promising. For now, his sights are set on the Comrades Marathon.
His performance is a quiet reminder that excellence endures here. There was no fanfare, no self-promotion, just steady work and the courage to test his limits. In that, he embodies something essential about South Africa at its best. DM