A top South African athlete has been mugged at gunpoint while out on his morning run.

Nine-time Comrades Marathon winner Bruce Fordyce was robbed of his trainers and watch by two men who pulled up in a car near his home in Parktown, Johannesburg.

The Times newspaper quoted Fordyce as saying the muggers were "welcome" to his old running shoes, noting they had done about 621 miles and "smelled like camembert"

While running this am I was assaulted and held up at gun point by thugs. stole my shoes, watch. Stumbled home fresh shoes, finished my run — Bruce Fordyce (@BruceFordycerun) June 23, 2017

Mr Fordyce, 61, said he returned home after the mugging to get another pair of shoes before completing his run.

The ultra-marathon he once won eight times in a row between 1981-88, is approximately 56 miles long.