Cape Town – If you thought Luvo Manyonga’s silver medal at the Rio Olympics was remarkable, just watch him at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
That was the view of the long jump star’s coach, Neil Cornelius, after Manyonga produced yet another magnificent effort to record a new personal best of 8.48m to win the Diamond League final on Friday night in Brussels.
The 25-year-old from Mbekweni was in terrific form at the Memorial van Damme meeting, starting with 8.24m to take the lead in the first round. He gradually improved as the night went on, jumping 8.26m with his second attempt, 8.28m with his fourth leap and then the big one came in round five, when he surpassed his previous best of 8.37m that clinched second position in Rio.
It was just 2cm off Khotso Mokoena’s South African and African record of 8.50m and was a fitting finale to an astonishing return to the long jump pit for Manyonga, who had been battling with personal issues off the track for a few years and only really started preparing for the Olympics late last year.
“Yes, it is amazing, more than amazing. And it is just the start of more things to come. This came just after a year’s work, so if he goes on for a few more years, his potential is limitless,” Cornelius told Independent Media.
“He only had four or five meetings this year before the Olympics, so he wasn’t jumping all the time. We chose the events carefully to make sure that we are at our best at the Olympics. We wanted to compete a bit more, but every meeting had its own goal that we wanted to achieve.
“The Diamond League was about his eighth competition this year. We wanted to work in two more before the Olympics, but we had to think hard about which meetings to choose to be ready for Rio.
“I spoke to him a bit via WhatsApp, as he has been very busy with the media and Diamond League functions. He’s excited and happy, and he said that the jump came very easily to him – he felt very comfortable. The TV coverage hardly showed the long jump competition, but he used the board well for the 8.48m.”
While Manyonga has always had the talent – he was the world junior champion in 2010 – he has proved that he is prepared to work hard too. And it is that drive that could see him challenge the world long jump record of 8.95m set by American Mike Powell at the 1991 world championships in Tokyo.
Well, there is a world championships coming up in London next August… “I’m impressed myself and very proud and happy for Luvo,” Cornelius said.
“It’s difficult to describe his work ethic and effort he puts in – you actually have to watch him during training. When he starts, he is in his own zone. He’s never been scared of anything, and his confidence in athletics and in himself is off the charts.
“Everything that he does, he goes in with the idea that ‘I will do it better than anyone else’. It is a patient process, but I am extremely happy with what we’ve achieved over a year. But a year is also almost nothing, because I have already started planning for the 2020 Olympics! Over three or four years, Luvo is going to be a different person.”
Manyonga’s season is complete, and he is only likely to step on to the track again at next year’s South African championships in April.
Friday’s Diamond League final was also the end of Olympic champion Caster Semenya’s season as she finished up by running a new 400m personal best of 50.40. Semenya beat Rio bronze medallist Shericka Jackson and expressed her delight on Twitter for the fanatical support she’s received.
“Officially off season. Thank you South Africa, Africa, the world. Nike and Wiphold, my team. I salute you all, much love #Cobra You the best,” Semenya posted.
Her rare 400m outing impressed South Africa’s other Olympic gold medallist Wayde van Niekerk. “How dope was that 400m of @caster800m that was insane... great season homie,” the 400m champion said on Twitter.
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