Jackie Mekler from South Africa was perhaps the greatest ultrarunner in the world during the late 1950s and early 1960s and was a five-time winner of the Comrades Marathon (54 miles). His path to greatness is particularly inspiring because as a boy in an orphanage, he became a self-taught runner, He was boosted by fierce self-determination that grew out of his lonely and harsh childhood experience.

Meckler broke the world records for 30 miles, 50 km, 40 miles, and 50 miles. He won the prestigious Comrades Marathon five times and once ran 100 miles in 13:08:36 at the young age of 21.