George Kusche won the 99th Comrades Marathon in June, setting a new record despite losing control of his bowels. He explained his decision to continue, stating it was not a choice made freely. Kusche emphasized that stopping would have disrespected his family and his hard work.

Kusche's win earned him R2,322,000 (about $143,000) in prize money. He highlighted the race's progress from no prize money to its current status. His reasoning underscores the challenge of enforcing rules in such high-stakes situations. Read more culture coverage.

Marathon Handbook reports that Kusche's experience highlights the difficulty of applying rules like Hyrox's section 12.3. The clause only works if someone else enforces it, as seen in the Beijing race. Kusche's story shows the personal stakes involved in such decisions. Related: Hyrox refunds Beijing race fees after athlete incident.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.