She calls herself an adventure seeker but to add to that Mary Mutlanyane is a Superwoman. In 2012 she started mountain biking, starting with short distances. Her first race was the 94.7 MTB and since then she’s expanded her world of sporting adventure participating in several major events in South Africa from Comrades to Iron Man and even summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.
“After summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in 2016, I knew nothing was going to stop me from achieving what I put my mind to. I’m an adventurer seeker. I try out different adventures and once I have ticked the bucket list item, I move on the next. I recently enjoyed Sky diving as my 2024 main bucket list item.”
Multi Sport Athlete, Mary Motlagae Mutlanyane
To add to being such a versatile athlete, Mary works a full-time job in the corporate sector as a Communication Specialist. She is also a mom to two little boys. That is where the Superwoman part comes in. Many of us can attest that juggling a career, sport as well as motherhood can be quite a lot. She does it so seamlessly.
She’s participated in 3 Ironman Triathlons in Durban, Mossel Bay and Nelson Mandela Bay. The Half Ironman is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation, consisting of a 1,9km swim, a 90km bicycle ride and a marathon 21,1km run completed in that order.
In addition to that she’s ran several marathons including the Ultimate Human Race, the Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans, and gruelling cycling races that cover over 180 to 202km in distance.
These kind of events require a high level of mental fortitude. Mutlanyane takes us through the life lessons that have come with the life of a high-performing athlete.
“The journey of preparing for these feet has taught me discipline, patience, time management, mental strength, resilience. There are the qualities I apply in my work life, in my relationships, in my small business. and other things I do. This has taught me to be a team player and also be a support system to others.”
Most of the time, purely from observation as a person who grew up in predominantly black communities, certain sporting codes are said to be for “other races”, perhaps that speaks to our history and the impact thereof. It also speaks to a number of factors such as certain codes like cycling, as an example, not being popular these communities.
Due to socio-economic status of our country, buying a bicycle is a massive luxury in the township. Swimming pools are only available in some townships and when they are, there are hardly programs to assist kids there to learn to swim and hone those skills.
Mary believes that this is changing and has started an initiative that addresses some of these challenges.
“It is a misconception. If certain sporting codes were for ‘other races’, that is not the case anymore. As a black community we may not have had access to those sporting codes, I think now we do. Those who still don’t have access, we (whom now have access) need to start looking into exposing those who are not.”
“Women For Waves is an initiative to inspire and empower women in the black community to start swimming. I saw a need and wanted to break this wall that swimming is for certain races only because I believe that every woman can learn how to swim – despite of their race, age or body shape. I want women to learn how to swim because it’s a lifesaving skill. As mothers we need to be able to save our children should they fall into a pool. Whether one is swimming for leisure or to take part in an event, it’s a great skill to have.”
Mary has also made massive strides as an athlete attracting brands and securing partnerships with Speedo and Spar.
“Speedo as a brand has made a great impact in my swim life. I was still swimming in the pool when I partnered with Speedo and when I said to them I want to start open water swimming therefore I need a wetsuit, they didn’t doubt my ability. They supported me and believed in my journey. As a brand with very much experienced swimmers, I looked up to these swimmers and vowed to myself that I will work hard too, and I did. I went as far as being an Ocean swimmer.
“I advocate for Women’s health and wellness. Spar as a brand has given me a platform to focus on women’s lives. Over the years since running the Spar Women’s Challenge I’d run a competition on my social media pages for a woman to win an entry to run Spar with me. When I got an opportunity to be one of the brand ambassador I knew I was the perfect fit because my mission of getting more women to come out and run was going to be extended.”
She is now preparing to run the Cape Town Marathon in October and at the same time she’s also training for Ironman 70.3 Mossel Bay coming up in November.
“Preparing for 2 major events is hard, but doable. With the marathon coming before Ironman 70.3 there’s more running in the week. A day starts with a morning run or morning swim and a bike ride or strength training after work. On a Saturday I go for long distance cycling and Sundays are for long distance running.”
She’s not done yet, there’s many more boxes she’s planning to tick.
“There’s still a lot more. There’s a lot more to do in the Triathlon space, particularly in Ironman, this is where I will be for a long time, while conquering once-off adventures around the world. My dream is to increase cultural diversity in swimming. I want to create environments inclusive for women, where women will be free to swim and are included. Inclusivity is important. I want women to have a passion for the water. I want to create a community that is welcoming for new swimmers.”
If you want to be like the Marvelous Mary Motlagae Mutlanyane one day, she has shared some pearls that can help you in your own journey.
“Anything you put your mind to is possible to achieve. Have a strict training regimen in place. Plan ahead, to avoid failing. Being a mother or a full time professional should not bring your personal dreams to a halt.”
Photo Caption: Mary Motlagae Mutlanyane is a marvel: A cyclist, open water swimmer and runner, who regularly participates in major events such as Ironman and the Comrades Marathon. When she’s not out training, Mary is a Communication Specialist and a mom of two. All Photos: Supplied
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