Mark Plaatjes (born 2 June 1962 in Johannesburg) is a former marathon runner who was champion at the 1993 World Championships in Athletics in Stuttgart.

Born in South Africa under apartheid, Plaatjes won two national titles at the marathon and two at cross country [1].

He sought political asylum in the United States in 1988, saying "I didn't want my daughter to grow up in a country where she felt inferior.

But the Namibian slowed down in the very final stages and was overtaken by Plaatjes three minutes before he reached the finish line, in a time of 2:13:57.

[5] Plaatjes became the first American to win a gold medal in any long-distance event at the World Championships.