How much did record-breaking Comrades Marathon winners earn?
· The South African
It was a historic day for the Comrades Marathon on Sunday as George Kusche first completed a stunning breakthrough performance, crossing the finish line in a record up time of 5:15:56 (unofficial time) after a perfectly paced run.
In doing so, he broke the 18-year ‘Up’ record of Russian Leonid Shvetsov of 5:24:49 set in 2008.
As a result, he banked a R925,000 prize, which was on offer for the first man and woman over the line.
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He also claimed the substantial prize of R242,000 as the first South African man to finish, and R605,000 for the ‘best up run’ record.
He also picked up an additional R550 000 for setting a new ‘fastest average pace’ record, breaking the previous record of 3:43.75/km set by Vladimir Kotov of Belarus in 2000.
At a minimum, that gave the 27-year-old a pay day of R2.32 million.
Meanwhile, South African running queen Gerda Steyn completed the 85.77km ‘Up’ run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in a record – unofficial – time of 5:44:53.
She smashed her own ‘Up’ record of of 5:49.46 set in 2024.
Steyn will similarly bank the R925,000 winner’s prize, R242,000 as the first South African woman across to finish and the ‘up run’ record-breaking prize of R605,000
In addition, she picked up another R550 000 for breaking her own ‘fastest average pace’ of 4:04.28/km set during her 2024 victory.
That gave Steyn – like Kusche – a pay day of R2.32 million.
Breakdown of 2026 Comrades Marathon Prize Money as Winners bank big cheques
TOP 10 ATHLETES
· The first 10 men and women over the line, irrespective of their age category, will be awarded gold medals as well as the following prize monies.
· The prize monies for the top 10 men and women include a Cell C Top Up that boosts their winnings by just over 30%.
MENWOMEN1R925,000R925,0002R464,000R464,0003R334,000R334,0004R168,000R168,0005R131,000R131,0006R76,000R76,0007R66,000R66,0008R58,000R58,0009R49,000R49,00010R39,000R39,000SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETES
· The first South African citizen (man and woman) to complete the event will each receive an additional prize.
MENWOMEN1R242,000R242,000KWAZULU-NATAL ATHLETES
· The first three KwaZulu-Natal Athletes (men and women) to complete the event will each receive additional prize money from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, provided they finish within the top 30 men and women.
· A KwaZulu-Natal Athlete shall be defined as an athlete domiciled in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and licensed by KwaZulu-Natal Athletics, and includes any athlete domiciled in KwaZulu-Natal who appears on the current ASA National List and is a member of a club in another province.
MENWOMEN1R77,000R77,0002R48,400R48,4003R24,200R24,200AGE CATEGORIES
· All age category prizes will be awarded as per chronological age as printed on an athlete’s race number. This also applies to team prizes.
· Unless an athlete specifically requested in writing to the CMA before 4 May 2026 to change their age category to a lower age category, they will be entered in the age category of their chronological age.
· Athletes will not be eligible for a prize in more than one age category, i.e., athletes are only eligible for a prize in the age category applicable to him/her or the younger category chosen by him/her as indicated on the official race number/bib.
· Athletes must provide proof of their age in order to claim an age category prize.
MENWOMEN40 – 49 years1R24,200R24,2002R14,520R14,5203R7,260R7,26050 – 59 years1R14,520R14,5202R7,260R7,2603R4,840R4,84060 – 69 years1R7,260R7,2602R4,840R4,8403R3,630R3,63070+ years1R6,050R6,0502R4,030R4,0303R2,020R2,020TEAM COMPETITION
· Team prizes will only be awarded to South African citizens.
· All athletes declared as being in the professional team category are automatically eliminated from any recreational team competition.
· All team prizes will be calculated on the combined times of the first four (4) club members to finish the race.
· To qualify for a team prize, athletes must compete wearing their club colours approved by their provincial athletics federation.
· The ASA domicile rule will be strictly enforced, except for those athletes appearing on the current ASA National Athlete List.
TEAMS (Professional Clubs) MENWOMEN1R44,770R44,770 TEAMS (Recreational Clubs) MENWOMENOpen1R19,360R19,3602R14,520R14,520Over 40 years1R14,520R14,520Breakdown of 2026 Comrades Marathon Incentive Bonuses
BEST ‘UP RUN’ TIME
· Should the winners (man and woman) of the 2026 Comrades Marathon break the Best Time previously recorded for the ‘Up Run,’ he or she will receive an additional cash payment.
· The best ‘Up Run’ times previously recorded are:
Ø Men: 5:24:49 by Leonid Shvetsov in 2008
Ø Women: 5:49:46 by Gerda Steyn in 2024
MENWOMEN1R605,000R605,000CELL C AVERAGE PACE
· Should the winners (man and woman) of the 2026 Comrades Marathon break the fastest average pace previously recorded for the ‘Up Run,’ he or she will receive an additional cash payment.
· The best ‘Up Run’ average paces previously recorded are:
Ø Men: 3:43.75/km by Vladimir Kotov in 2000
Ø Women: 4:04.28/km by Gerda Steyn in 2024
MENWOMEN1R550,000R550,000CELL C HOT SPOT
· The first athletes (man and woman) to pass the designated Cell C Hot Spot, and to then complete the race (irrespective of final finishing position), will qualify for the Hot Spot cash incentive.
MENWOMEN1R55,000R55,000