Steyn joins Adidas as new Brand Ambassador

South Africa's most loved marathon athlete has swapped Nike for Adidas. After beginning her relationship with the swoosh brand when she joined the Nedbank Running Club six years ago, the national marathon record holder (2:25:28) Gerda Steyn announced in January that she would not be rejoining The Green Machine in 2022. It has now been confirmed that the 2019 Comrades Marathon champion is the latest asset to join the Three Stripes as an ambassador.

Steyn in action in Japan where she finished in 15th at the Olympic Marathon. Photo Credit: Gerda Steyn.

And Steyn is living her dream.“I never thought I could ever be a professional athlete. It was always a far-away dream. I love how it’s changed my life, and I want people to know they must never give up on their talent, whatever that is,” she said in a press release issued by the German sports apparel giant confirming that the Olympian had been named as a new brand partner alongside actress Ama Qamata and cricketer Laura Wolvaardt.

It seems what attracted Adidas to the first woman to break six hours on the Comrades Marathon Up Run is her inspiring story of rising from social runner to record holder and Olympian in just 6 short years. That story will form part of an adidas film series called I’mPossible which is an online content offering featuring stories of women who have made their impossible possible, intending to inspire others to do the same. But Steyn's story is by no means over yet.

In fact, many believe that the second phase of the long distance runner's career is just beginning. After breaking Colleen de Reuk's 25-year old record by almost a minute in Italy last April, the 31-year old went on to finish in 15th place at her debut Olympics in #Tokyo2021. All of this after starting as an ultra marathon athlete, who was not expected to excel as much as she did over 42,2km. The woman from Bothaville will have her sights set on an even better performance at #Paris2024 but says her main goal this year is to get under the 2:25 mark.

"The marathon is very interesting for me and I do feel that like I've still got a couple of years of growth in terms of bettering my times on the marathon. I do think that on a good day I can do it. Even last year I'm sure that if it was a better weather day I would have been able to do that in April, but we can't control the weather. I know that one day I will have a marathon where there is good weather. That is definitely something I'm looking forward to," she concluded.