As Mandela Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on a question that feels increasingly relevant: how do we ensure Nelson Mandela’s legacy remains a living force rather than a chapter in history?
For me, that reflection began long before I ever set foot in South Africa.
I grew up in northeastern Belgium, more than 13,000 kilometres from Cape Town. Europe was still rebuilding after the Second World War, and the values of cooperation, solidarity and reconciliation were woven into everyday life. They weren’t simply political ideals; they were the foundation on which societies rebuilt themselves.
During my early teenage years, a classmate introduced me to the writings of Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s first president. His vision of an Africa that could define its own future challenged my thinking. Around the same time, I began reading about Nelson Mandela, then imprisoned on Robben Island, only a few kilometres from where I recently stood in Cape Town. Even from behind prison walls, his moral authority was beginning to reach people across the world.
A few years later, athletics took me to the United States, where I competed alongside runners from Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco and many other countries. Through sport, friendships formed naturally. We didn’t see passports first. We saw teammates, competitors and people who shared the same passion.
It was also through athletics that I met South African runners. Conversations often turned to apartheid. Some defended the system, believing it was the only way South Africa could function. Yet many of us instinctively understood that no society built on inequality could ever reach its full potential. It was during those years that I made a personal decision: I would not visit South Africa until it became a free and democratic nation.
Like millions around the world, I followed Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom from afar. His release from prison was one of those rare moments that transcended politics. Here was a man who had every reason to seek revenge, yet instead he chose reconciliation. He understood that lasting peace is not built by defeating your opponents, but by finding a way to build a future together.
When I finally visited South Africa in 2001, more than a decade after Mandela addressed the nation from the Grand Parade, I experienced a country still finding its feet but united by an extraordinary sense of possibility. What struck me most was not only what Mandela had achieved politically, but the example he had set as a leader. His courage, humility and unwavering belief in human dignity remain as powerful today as they were then.
That is why I believe his legacy matters now more than ever.
We live in a world that often feels increasingly divided. Political differences are amplified. Communities become polarised. It is easier to retreat into opposing views than it is to seek common ground. Mandela showed us another way. He proved that strength is measured not by how deeply we divide, but by how courageously we unite.
These are not values that belong only to South Africa. They belong to the world.
That is also why the work of the Nelson Mandela Foundation is so important. Its purpose is not simply to preserve the memory of an extraordinary man, but to ensure that his values continue to shape future generations. History only matters if we allow it to influence the decisions we make today.
Sport plays an important role in that mission. Throughout my career, I have seen how running can bring together people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds in a way that few other things can. It teaches humility, respect and resilience. It reminds us that regardless of where we come from, we are often stronger together than apart.
More than a race, Nelson Mandela Marathon is an invitation to move through the values that defined Nelson Mandela’s life and leadership: dignity, courage, justice, equality, solidarity and freedom. It is a chance to run for something bigger than oneself, and to carry these values forward.
At Golazo, we are deeply honoured to have been entrusted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation with helping grow the Nelson Mandela Marathon and its global running series. We accept that responsibility with humility because this is about far more than organising world-class events. It is about ensuring that each race becomes another opportunity to inspire people through Mandela’s enduring example.
As we celebrate Mandela Day this month, I hope we remember that his greatest achievement was not simply changing the course of South African history. It was showing the world that forgiveness is stronger than hatred, that reconciliation is more powerful than revenge and that one person’s courage can inspire generations.
His work is not finished.
The responsibility for carrying those values forward now belongs to all of us. Whether we do so through our communities, our workplaces, our families or even through sport, we each have the opportunity to contribute to the kind of society Mandela believed was possible.
That, perhaps, is the most meaningful legacy any of us could hope to leave.
This is not simply about running. It is about remembering, connecting and moving forward together.
To watch the teaser video and join the journey, visit www.nelsonmandelamarathon.com
Nelson Mandela Day
Mandela Day is an annual global celebration, officially recognised by the United Nations, that takes place on 18 July to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. The day is a call to action for individuals, communitiesand organisations to reflect on Mandela’s values and principles, and to take meaningful steps to make a positive impact in their own communities.
To learn more about Nelson Mandela Day, visit www.mandeladay.com