CAPE TOWN. Aug 7: Josia Thugwane, gold medalist in the marathon at the Atlanta Olympics, on Thursday was named 1997-world-athlete-of-the-year by the Association of International Marathons and Road Races, reports AP.

The 1993 and 1995 national marathon champion is the first South African to win the field's top award.

Sports Minister Steve Tshwete handed Thugwane the Golden Shoe award at a ceremony here.

"You don't need money, facilities and an established infrastructure to participate in road running." Tshwete said. "All you need are guts and courage to take to the roads in the area you live and to try to emulate what Thugwane has achieved."

The 27-year-old ran his first marathon in 1990 and made a breakthrough when he won the Honolulu Marathon in 1995.

He ran few races in 1997 and did not take part in the World Championships, but clocked 2:08:06 in the London Marathon to finish third and captured first place at the Fukuoka Marathon, which he won with a new South African record of 2:07:28. ,

Previous winners of the AIMS award are Kenya's Paul Tergat. Vincent Rousseau (Belgium). Dionicio Ceron (Mexico) and Benson Masaya (Kenya).