In line with the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) commitment and promise to runners and the media to restore the prize money back to the levels before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the CMA is pleased to announce that this year’s prize purse will be a substantial R4.31-million, effectively a 90% increase on last year’s R2.27 million.

This represents nearly a doubling of last year’s first prize from R260 000 to R500 000 with second and third overall showing similar increases from R130 000 to R250 000 for second and R90 000 to R180 000 for third.

If the winner in either the men’s or women’s races in this year’s Comrades breaks the Down Run Best Times of David Gatebe (2016 – 5:18:19) or Frith van der Merwe (1989 – 5:54:43) respectively, he or she will take home a minimum of R1-million in Comrades prize money, comprising of a first prize of R500.000 plus a R500.000 incentive for breaking the best time. In addition to these prizes the first South African and first KZN athlete will each receive R200 000 and R60 000 respectively.

All other age category and team prizes have been increased by similar 90% margins.

South African Athletes
The first South African citizen (man and woman) to complete the event will each receive R200 000.

KwaZulu-Natal Athlete
The first KwaZulu-Natal athlete (man and woman) to complete the race will each receive R60 000 from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts & Culture.

In addition to the prize money, 1-ounce pure gold medals valued at around R38 000 each are awarded to the first 10 men and the first 10 women.

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