Khotso Mokoena happy with the development of long jump in SA

In an interview with SABC Sport, Mokoena, a silver medalist in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, complemented junior long jumpers for the work that they are doing so far.

As the Chairperson of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) Athletes Commission, he believes even though the sport had a decline, the current crop of youth long jumpers will be medal contenders in the 2028 Olympic Games.

"I think it died, now we are trying to recite it to bring it back to life doing CPR. I see that it's coming back through the juniors and the youth. I'm very excited by the youth long jumpers and the junior long jumpers because they're giving our senior guys a run for their money and I think that's very important in terms of looking at the pathway of the long jumping, it's starting to come back. I think by 2028 it will be much, much better," Mokoena said.

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Luvo Manyonga, the Rio Olympics silver medallist, is currently serving a four-year ban for failing to take a mandatory drug test, which will end in December 2024.

Ruswahl Samaai, a two-time Africa champion and 2017 World Championships bronze medallist, is struggling with his form following the recent loss of his brother. Consequently, Jovan van Vuuren is the only jumper who qualified for the Olympics.

"RIP to Ruswahl's brother, I do know about it and it's very difficult to go to the national champs when you are facing that kind of tragedy but he tried and when I saw his last competition now he was third, I think he got bronze. I think he's starting to find his feet - I think he needs two more competitions then he'll jump 8,30 again," Mokwena added.