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.
For someone who has been involved in tug-of-war since 2006, the double triumph was the culmination of two decades of dedication, hard work and sacrifice. The preparation involved months of demanding training, difficult decisions and countless hours of commitment, with no guarantees of success against some of the strongest nations in the sport.
The moment of victory brought an overwhelming mix of emotions. “At first, I was completely shocked. I couldn't believe it. You almost have to stop and ask yourself, ‘Did we really just do that?’” he recalled.
Winning in front of a home crowd made the achievement even more meaningful. Seeing fellow South Africans cheering, celebrating and sharing in the moment transformed the victories into something bigger than sporting results.
“In that moment, it felt like we weren't just pulling for ourselves or for our teams. We were pulling for everyone who had supported us, believed in us, and stood behind us throughout the journey,” he said.
From athlete to coach – and back again
Theart's journey in Tug-of-War has been shaped by his passion for the sport and his willingness to contribute beyond his own performances. Following surgery for a tennis elbow injury in 2020, which temporarily prevented him from competing, he began assisting with coaching. What started as a way to remain involved gradually developed into a central part of his sporting career.
Over the past four years, he has become increasingly involved in coaching, while continuing to compete himself. Balancing the two roles can be challenging, but he believes that experiencing competition first-hand gives him a valuable perspective when supporting his athletes.
“It's definitely very special to see the athletes I coach perform well. It makes me very proud – an indescribable feeling,” he explained.
For Theart, Tug-of-War is about much more than physical strength. Success depends on all eight team members working as one, trusting each other and remaining mentally strong when their bodies are pushed to their limits. Technique, tactics, discipline and camaraderie are equally important.
The demanding training sessions, sacrifices and occasional frustrations are all part of the journey, but they also create bonds that extend far beyond the competition field.
A bigger dream: The World Games 2029
The historic World Championship success has also strengthened South Africa's ambitions to return to The World Games. The country's last appearance in the men's tug-of-war competition was in 2005, making qualification for Karlsruhe 2029 an especially significant goal.
“Following the success of these World Championships, I think our ambition has grown even stronger. If anything, the wins have made us hungrier to push harder, keep improving, and build on the momentum we've created,” said Theart.
For him and his teammates, competing at The World Games would represent another major milestone and an opportunity to represent South Africa on one of the world's leading multi-sport stages.
“Qualifying for The World Games would mean the absolute world to us. It's definitely another big tick on the bucket list, but more than that, it would be an opportunity to represent South Africa on another incredible world stage.”
The road to Karlsruhe will require continued dedication, preparation and improvement, but the recent victories have given the team renewed confidence in what is possible.
“It's a big goal, but one that I think we now believe in more than ever. This World Championship has shown us that we shouldn't be afraid to dream bigger.”