"VAN" (Sports Desk - 10.11.2026) :: South African Tug-of-War athlete and coach Johnny Theart has been named the IWGA Athlete of the Month for October 2026, following an outstanding performance at the World Outdoor Tug of War Championships, where he played a key role in two historic gold-medal victories on home soil. A member of the South African senior men's team, Theart helped secure the country's first-ever World Championship gold medal in the 600kg category. As if that achievement were not enough, he also coached the South African under-23 mixed 560kg team to gold, making the championships an unforgettable experience for both the athlete and the coach in him. “If you had told me before the competition that we would win both categories, I honestly wouldn't have believed you,”Theart admitted.
On Tue, Nov 10, 2026