| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ferdinand Andries |
| Nationality | South African |
| Born | (1948-08-26)26 August 1948 Molteno, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Died | 29 October 2013(2013-10-29) (aged 65) Germiston, South Africa |
| Alma mater | Stellenbosch University |
| Occupation | Plastic Surgeon |
| Spouse | Kathleen de Villiers |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and Road running |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal bests |
|
Ferdinand Andries le Grange (Ferdie; 26 August 1948 – October 2013) was a South African plastic surgeon and marathon runner who broke African records.
Early life
He was born in Molteno, Eastern Cape, South Africa. His father was a farmer. After school, he studied Medicine at Stellenbosch University and University of the Witwatersrand. He had a medical practise in Bedfordview Germiston, South Africa
He married Kathleen de Villiers, an anaesthetist, and their children were Loné, Jean, Michelle and Ferdie, Jr.
Running career
In 1971 he was the first African runner to run a sub 2 hour 20 minutes marathon. He did it in a marathon in Durbanville with a time of 2 hours 19 minutes. His personal best was the South African open marathon on 23 April 1974 when he ran 2 hours 12 minutes. He was the first runner in the world to run two sub 2 hours 20 minutes marathons in one week. On 24 January 1974 in an hour race, he was the first in Africa to run more than 20 km in an hour. This was done on a grass track in Bellville, Western Cape. He broke Abebe Bikila's record.
He was the South African Marathon Champion in 1973 and 1974.
Due to the sporting boycott of South Africa during the apartheid era he never competed in the Olympic Games.
Retirement from running
He retired from running at 25 to pursue a medical career. He used to run from Cape Town to Bellville at 12 o’clock at night after work. After his retirement from competitive running, he ran the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon.
References
- ^ "Official Newsletter of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery" (PDF). Isaps.org. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Barron, Chris (1 December 2013). "Ferdie La Grange - runner who dominated marathons in the 1970s". Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- "GenDatabase.com - South African Genealogy Research Database". Gendatabase.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "South Africa Loses Famous Marathoner". Myportelizabeth.co.za. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- Century of the marathon Riël Hauman Human & Rousseau 1996. Page 128