The forgotten marathon king
At the age of 54, Namibia's marathon great still holds the sport dear to his heart.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
WINDHOEK
National marathon record holder Luketz Swartbooi says he'll always miss the sport.
The athlete retired a few years ago due to health complications.
“It has been a very long time since I was on the track or road because of my health, but there is no day I do not think of the sport.
“I still have fresh memories of all the races I won and the opportunities I had to travel around the world.
“What motivated me the most was the desire to make myself and the country proud,” Swartbooi said.
The record
In 1992, he won the Rössing Marathon with a time of 2:11:23, a record that still stands to this day.
“I believe that anyone can break that record if they commit their lives and bodies towards marathon running.
“Well, I would not say I am not happy by the fact that no one has broken the record yet, but I actually do hope someone can do that in the future because records are meant to be broken.”
Greatest moment
The former marathon runner's biggest success to date was a silver medal he won at the World Championship in Stuttgart, Germany in 1993.
A fresh face from a country that had just gained independence, Swartbooi proved to the world that the size of your country doesn't determine the size of your heart.
“I would say that winning that silver medal in Germany was the best thing of my career.
“It made me feel as if I was on top of the world because I had beaten some of the best in the world at that time.”
Boston Marathon
In 1994, the athlete set his personal best in Boston with a time of 2:09:08, earning him the third-place spot in the Boston Marathon.
“Boston was special to me because I gave it my all and eventually finished third. Setting a personal best and walking away with a bronze medal was a huge achievement and an incredible moment.”
The hiccups
Despite many golden moments, Swartbooi's marathon career also saw some dark days. He finished 48th at the 2002 Summer Olympics in Australia and received a public warning from the IAAF after testing positive for a steroid, prednisolone/prednisone, in 2005.
“There are moments in life that one does not always win or have things go your way, but that only makes you stronger as a person,” he said. The 54-year-old is now an employee at the Rehoboth town council and a father of four.
“I am married to my beautiful wife and I'm a father to four good children. I do sometimes exercise but it has become extremely difficult.”
WINDHOEK
National marathon record holder Luketz Swartbooi says he'll always miss the sport.
The athlete retired a few years ago due to health complications.
“It has been a very long time since I was on the track or road because of my health, but there is no day I do not think of the sport.
“I still have fresh memories of all the races I won and the opportunities I had to travel around the world.
“What motivated me the most was the desire to make myself and the country proud,” Swartbooi said.
The record
In 1992, he won the Rössing Marathon with a time of 2:11:23, a record that still stands to this day.
“I believe that anyone can break that record if they commit their lives and bodies towards marathon running.
“Well, I would not say I am not happy by the fact that no one has broken the record yet, but I actually do hope someone can do that in the future because records are meant to be broken.”
Greatest moment
The former marathon runner's biggest success to date was a silver medal he won at the World Championship in Stuttgart, Germany in 1993.
A fresh face from a country that had just gained independence, Swartbooi proved to the world that the size of your country doesn't determine the size of your heart.
“I would say that winning that silver medal in Germany was the best thing of my career.
“It made me feel as if I was on top of the world because I had beaten some of the best in the world at that time.”
Boston Marathon
In 1994, the athlete set his personal best in Boston with a time of 2:09:08, earning him the third-place spot in the Boston Marathon.
“Boston was special to me because I gave it my all and eventually finished third. Setting a personal best and walking away with a bronze medal was a huge achievement and an incredible moment.”
The hiccups
Despite many golden moments, Swartbooi's marathon career also saw some dark days. He finished 48th at the 2002 Summer Olympics in Australia and received a public warning from the IAAF after testing positive for a steroid, prednisolone/prednisone, in 2005.
“There are moments in life that one does not always win or have things go your way, but that only makes you stronger as a person,” he said. The 54-year-old is now an employee at the Rehoboth town council and a father of four.
“I am married to my beautiful wife and I'm a father to four good children. I do sometimes exercise but it has become extremely difficult.”
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