LAWRENCE Peu was born with athletics in his blood and he prays to God to give him the strength to run until the day he dies.
Peu - one of the South African road running legends - began his love affair with the sport at an early age at Bakone Lower Primary School in the Limpopo village of Setumong, GaMatlala, west of Polokwane.
His peers later tried in vain to convince him to play for local amateur soccer side Matlala Young Chiefs but he refused.
Not that he did not have football skills, he just did not want to leave athletics. He found it difficult to juggle his commitment to the school choir and running but would ensure that he made up for the lost time with extra training after choir sessions.
A relaxed Peu spoke to us from his home in Springs, on the East Rand.
What drove you to athletics?
I started athletics at Bakone Primary School and though I was young, I impressed my teachers.
Was athletics the only sport you competed in at school?
I also played soccer as part of school's traditional Wednesday activities and we were expected to also compete in other sporting codes that teachers thought we could also excel in, for them to have a pool of players to choose from.
My schoolmates and teachers thought I could excel in soccer. I played as a right-back and in midfield and although I got some praise from teachers, my heart was still in athletics.
When I went to Ipopeng High School in 1983 my teacher, Phineas Sako, allowed me to concentrate more on athletics and that's how I started to carve a niche for myself in running, winning a number of events at the district, regional and provincial level.
What was your first major prize at school level?
It was a bag of maize meal and R200 after winning a local half-marathon in 1983.
Who were you competing against in Limpopo at that time?
I competed against legends like the Tsebe brothers, David and Rammy, Alfred Mafodi, Rufus Mabi, Johannes Maremane, Phineas Dibete and Senah Boshomane, to mention just a few. We were also in the team that represented Limpopo on the national stage.
Where did you go thereafter?
After failing matric I decided to relocate to Johannesburg to look for a job and also further my athletics career. I got a temporary job as a cleaner at East Rand Proprietary Mines (ERPM) in 1986.
My employers were very cooperative as they allowed me to train in between.
I remember they told me that I had to go home for six months because of the company's policy to give temporary workers six months' leave.
What happened then?
I duly complied with the rules of the company and I returned home where I trained hard and competed in many events in Limpopo and Johannesburg to eke out a living.
I was doing well and the company had no choice but to cut short my leave. I was given office work as they valued my athletics ability.
I then moved to Carletonville, North West.
Can you tell us about your first international trip and how you reacted to a long trip.
I went to Florida in the US in 1992 and I was very excited that a boy from a village was flying to America. But my excitement was short-lived immediately I boarded that plane. I was nervous, thinking about the fact that we would spend more than 20 hours flying over the sea. I asked myself what would happen if the engine stopped over the sea. We would all drown in the sea because there is no side-parking in the air. I kept on praying throughout the trip.
What were you doing in the US?
In search of an international agent to organise events for me overseas. You must remember that we were just readmitted to the international fold after the end of apartheid and were not known abroad.
Did you manage to get one?
I god a very good agent whose name unfortunately I can't remember. He gave me international exposure as I competed in various races abroad, including marathon events in Japan, Boston and New York's Marathon 11 and 17.
I also competed in short distances there.
How were you treated overseas?
Those guys did not know anything about SA sport because of the isolation. A lot of Americans enquired about our country. I still remember one asking me if we had cars in South Africa. But they respected me and spoke highly about Nelson Mandela.
How did you survive as athletes, because there was not a lot of money at that time?
You wouldn't survive if you didn't have a job elsewhere, especially in the mines.
How did you qualify for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?
Through the Paris Marathon after finishing fifth in 2hrs:11 minutes but I was selected as a reserve after Josia Thugwane won the SA Marathon Championships at 2hrs:12.
In terms of the rules and regulations, the winner of the marathon championships qualified automatically for the Olympics, irrespective of the winning time clocked.
I finished 21st overall at the Olympics.
We were all happy for Josia after he became the first black South African to win gold at the Olympics.
What was your biggest prize money you won as an athlete?
It was R15000 but I can't remember the year and event.
Who were your toughest opponents?
Matthews "Loop en Val" Motshwarateu, Matthews Temane, Xolile Yawa and the Tsebe brothers.
Have you left athletics?
I'm still actively involved in athletics at 46 and I will run until the day I die. I'm from an athletics family.
Legends Corner: Lawrence Peu is ready to run till his dying day
LAWRENCE Peu was born with athletics in his blood and he prays to God to give him the strength to run until the day he dies.
Peu - one of the South African road running legends - began his love affair with the sport at an early age at Bakone Lower Primary School in the Limpopo village of Setumong, GaMatlala, west of Polokwane.
His peers later tried in vain to convince him to play for local amateur soccer side Matlala Young Chiefs but he refused.
Not that he did not have football skills, he just did not want to leave athletics. He found it difficult to juggle his commitment to the school choir and running but would ensure that he made up for the lost time with extra training after choir sessions.
A relaxed Peu spoke to us from his home in Springs, on the East Rand.
What drove you to athletics?
I started athletics at Bakone Primary School and though I was young, I impressed my teachers.
Was athletics the only sport you competed in at school?
I also played soccer as part of school's traditional Wednesday activities and we were expected to also compete in other sporting codes that teachers thought we could also excel in, for them to have a pool of players to choose from.
My schoolmates and teachers thought I could excel in soccer. I played as a right-back and in midfield and although I got some praise from teachers, my heart was still in athletics.
When I went to Ipopeng High School in 1983 my teacher, Phineas Sako, allowed me to concentrate more on athletics and that's how I started to carve a niche for myself in running, winning a number of events at the district, regional and provincial level.
What was your first major prize at school level?
It was a bag of maize meal and R200 after winning a local half-marathon in 1983.
Who were you competing against in Limpopo at that time?
I competed against legends like the Tsebe brothers, David and Rammy, Alfred Mafodi, Rufus Mabi, Johannes Maremane, Phineas Dibete and Senah Boshomane, to mention just a few. We were also in the team that represented Limpopo on the national stage.
Where did you go thereafter?
After failing matric I decided to relocate to Johannesburg to look for a job and also further my athletics career. I got a temporary job as a cleaner at East Rand Proprietary Mines (ERPM) in 1986.
My employers were very cooperative as they allowed me to train in between.
I remember they told me that I had to go home for six months because of the company's policy to give temporary workers six months' leave.
What happened then?
I duly complied with the rules of the company and I returned home where I trained hard and competed in many events in Limpopo and Johannesburg to eke out a living.
I was doing well and the company had no choice but to cut short my leave. I was given office work as they valued my athletics ability.
I then moved to Carletonville, North West.
Can you tell us about your first international trip and how you reacted to a long trip.
I went to Florida in the US in 1992 and I was very excited that a boy from a village was flying to America. But my excitement was short-lived immediately I boarded that plane. I was nervous, thinking about the fact that we would spend more than 20 hours flying over the sea. I asked myself what would happen if the engine stopped over the sea. We would all drown in the sea because there is no side-parking in the air. I kept on praying throughout the trip.
What were you doing in the US?
In search of an international agent to organise events for me overseas. You must remember that we were just readmitted to the international fold after the end of apartheid and were not known abroad.
Did you manage to get one?
I god a very good agent whose name unfortunately I can't remember. He gave me international exposure as I competed in various races abroad, including marathon events in Japan, Boston and New York's Marathon 11 and 17.
I also competed in short distances there.
How were you treated overseas?
Those guys did not know anything about SA sport because of the isolation. A lot of Americans enquired about our country. I still remember one asking me if we had cars in South Africa. But they respected me and spoke highly about Nelson Mandela.
How did you survive as athletes, because there was not a lot of money at that time?
You wouldn't survive if you didn't have a job elsewhere, especially in the mines.
How did you qualify for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?
Through the Paris Marathon after finishing fifth in 2hrs:11 minutes but I was selected as a reserve after Josia Thugwane won the SA Marathon Championships at 2hrs:12.
In terms of the rules and regulations, the winner of the marathon championships qualified automatically for the Olympics, irrespective of the winning time clocked.
I finished 21st overall at the Olympics.
We were all happy for Josia after he became the first black South African to win gold at the Olympics.
What was your biggest prize money you won as an athlete?
It was R15000 but I can't remember the year and event.
Who were your toughest opponents?
Matthews "Loop en Val" Motshwarateu, Matthews Temane, Xolile Yawa and the Tsebe brothers.
Have you left athletics?
I'm still actively involved in athletics at 46 and I will run until the day I die. I'm from an athletics family.
This article was first published in the printed newspaper and eEdition on 5 September 2012. Click on this link to view the eEdition
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