Gordon’s Bay resident Stiaan Botha is the embodiment of resilience.
Having faced stage 4 testicular and lung cancer in 2014, followed by a triple heart bypass just four years later, the avid runner has overcome health challenges that would deter most. Yet, the 55-year-old is determined to keep his running dreams alive as he completed his tenth Two Oceans half-marathon and is already training for his 11th half-marathon after a remarkable journey of recovery and perseverance.
Botha, member of Strand Athletics Club who ran two Comrades Marathons back in 2002 and 2009, attempted a return to ultra-distance running in 2018. However, his comeback was tragically cut short in the Two Oceans at Constantia Nek after five hours, leading to the discovery of a critical heart condition. “Three weeks later I had a triple heart bypass,”
Botha recounts, reflecting on the unexpected turn his health took. The surgery presented a new set of hurdles. Botha now grapples with insufficient oxygen-rich blood flow from his lungs due to issues with his pulmonary arteries.
“Currently only three of the four pulmonary arteries have stents in them. The fourth one couldn’t be opened,” he explains.
Despite these ongoing challenges, Botha’s spirit remains unbroken. He has faced further setbacks in his running journey, including two unsuccessful ultra attempts and a harrowing experience at the 2019 half-marathon where he ended up in ICU.
“I haven’t finished two ultras and one half-marathon after ending up in ICU during the 2019 half because two-thirds of my left lung was full of blood that wasn’t being pumped back into my body. That’s when stents were placed in my pulmonary arteries,” Botha shares.
Undeterred, he is now focused on achieving a significant personal milestone as he looks back on nearly two decades of endurance running and emphasises his passion for the sport. “I hope to complete my 20th Two Oceans half-marathon,” he states determindly.
