[1][2] Dave Wright was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he attended St John's College, from where he matriculated in 1968.
After completing his undergraduate, he moved to Durban and joined Savages Athletic Club, with whom he would achieve his greatest success.
For both these achievements he has earned his Comrades Marathon number of 2390 in perpetuity, a green number[6] However, what sets him apart from all other Comrades runners was his habit of finishing at the front of the field of the 90 km (56 mile) race with a "waltz" and a cartwheel over the line, something that all-time race-win record holder, Bruce Fordyce, recently placed as number 4 on his list of 10 Best Comrades Moments,[7] writing that while he could "scarcely hobble at the finish...his (Dave's) gymnastic display was always worth at least a 9.75 for the Olympic floor exercise."
His routine would begin approximately 50 meters out from the finishing line, when he would hold his arms out to his sides at shoulder height while alternately swinging one leg behind the other and continuing to run.
In addition to the Comrades, Dave also performed well in South Africa's other major ultramarathon, the 56 km Two Oceans Marathon.