Mark Plaatjes

Mark Plaatjes ( born June 2, 1962 in Johannesburg ) is a former American long-distance runner of South African origin.

From 1984 to Plaatjes studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and in 1987 received the master's degree in physical therapy. In 1981 and 1985, he was South African Champion in the marathon ( the second time with his personal best of 2:08:58 h) and 1983 and 1985 in cross-country running.

In 1988, he asked for political asylum in the United States. In 1991, he won the Los Angeles Marathon. Its time that he scored sixth in the Boston Marathon in 1993, was enough to get him to qualify for the U.S. selection. At the same time he received the American citizen, so he could compete in the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart in 1993, where he won in 2:13:57 h the gold medal in the marathon.

Later he worked as a trainer and operated several sports shops. He lives in Boulder ( Colorado) and there is a holder of a hospital for physical rehabilitation. Plaatjes is married and has three daughters.

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