Lace-up with the best: Mr Price Sport unveils 2026 Comrades Marathon ambassadors

Mr Price Sport has officially introduced its 2026 Comrades Marathon ambassador team, an inspiring collective of runners whose journeys capture the resilience, passion, and unity that define South Africa’s most iconic race.

The team brings together a diverse mix of athletes, from experienced Comrades finishers to first-time participants. Each ambassador represents a distinct story, reflecting the true essence of the event: perseverance, community spirit, and an unwavering drive to achieve greatness. Through these authentic narratives, Mr Price Sport aims to celebrate everyday runners while inspiring more South Africans to take part in this legendary marathon.

At the heart of this initiative is the brand’s Comrades Marathon campaign, centred on the theme: ‘Every Up Counts’. The campaign shines a spotlight on the full journey to race day, recognising the challenges, milestones, and victories that define the runner’s experience. It encourages participants to keep showing up, pushing their limits, and striving forward.

By partnering with its Comrades ambassadors, Mr Price Sport brings these powerful stories to life, inviting runners nationwide to share their own ‘What’s Up Comrades’ moments and become part of a collective celebration of determination and resilience.

Meet the team:

• Sipho Marima – Sipho Marima is a five-time Comrades Marathon finisher, three silver medals, a Bill Rowan and a Vic Clapman. A running influencer who believes in the power of accountability and inspiration which is why he started the movement ‘Did You Run’. He will be lining up for his sixth Comrades Marathon this year.
• Mattie Lennon – Matthew Lennon (AKA Mattie) is a Cape Town-based sports photographer and passionate runner, with an endurance background including multiple half marathons, road marathons, and ultra-trail races – with distances up to 100km across South Africa and Europe.
  Growing up in Kloof on the Comrades Marathon route, his love for running and connection to the South African running community is shaped by the race’s iconic spirit. 2026 will be his first attempt at the Comrades Marathon.
• Sphamandla Maduna – ‘Spha_thisabledrunner’ is a groundbreaking South African endurance athlete celebrated for redefining possibility in long‑distance running. He made history as the first man with cerebral palsy to finish the Comrades Marathon and holds recognition as the fastest athlete with cerebral palsy to complete the race.
• Samantha Shabalala – Samantha ‘SemmiFit’ Shabalala’s current obsession is running marathons and ultra marathons. She enjoys these distances as they require a lot of mental resilience which is one of her main character traits. “The training that comes with these distances has also taught me things like the power of consistency, mental fortitude and having grit. Looking forward to running my fourth Comrades Marathon this year,” she said.
• Yollus Sonto Ngomane AKA BetterYourNext – A dedicated endurance athlete and dynamic content creator with a passion for helping others elevate their fitness journeys. A five‑time Comrades Marathon finisher, he brings both experience and inspiration to the running community. Beyond ultra‑distance running, Yollus is an avid cyclist, committed HYROX athlete, and trusted running pacer, known for guiding athletes toward achieving their personal bests.
• Sifiso Mngoma – Sifiso Mngoma is a marketing professional with experience in campaign execution, brand activations, and retail marketing initiatives. Outside of work, he is a passionate social runner who enjoys staying active and connecting with the running community.
• Kayleigh Capuzzimati – Kayleigh Capuzzimati is a 32-year-old amateur (but very enthusiastic) social runner, on a mission to become the best version of herself, one big, slightly intimidating goal at a time. For her, running is equal parts self-discovery, discipline, and a very effective way to stay out of trouble. Through her partnership with Mr Price Sport in the lead-up to the Comrades Marathon, Kayleigh is bringing that same energy to a bigger stage, proving that running isn’t just about pace or podiums, but about heart, community, and the courage to start.