Page 95 - Forbes - Africa (March 2020)
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FORBES AFRICA
UNDER 30 • LUVO MANYONGA
THE
LONG
JUMP
TO
FREEDOM
A reformed drug addict, South African long
jumper Luvo Manyonga is now aiming for
gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
BY NICK SAID
OUTHAFRICANLONGJUMPER begantousetherecreationaldrugtik,atype
LuvoManyongahasovercome ofcrystalmethamphetaminethatultimately
incrediblehardshipsandsorrowin ledtoapositivetestandasuspension.
Shislifetoemergeasagenuinegold Manyongawentthroughrehabilitation
medalprospectattheTokyo2020Olympic afteradmittinghisaddiction,andwashanded
Games,wherehewillbeamongthefavorites an18-monthbanfromcompetition.
tostandontopofthepodium. Moreheartachefollowedin2014
Manyonga’srise,fallandriseagainserves when,justashewasplanninghisreturnto
asalessontomanythatthedesiretosucceed competition,hislong-timecoachandmentor,
canburnstrongerthanallelse. MarioSmith,waskilledinacaraccidenton
The29-year-oldemergedasoneofthe hiswaytovisittheathleteathisMbekweni
mostpromisingathletesinSouthAfrica homeinSouthAfrica.
whenhewongoldattheWorldJunior Itprovedanotherdevastatingblow
Championshipsin2010,andthefollowing andareturntodrugs,beforetheSouth
yearwasvictoriousattheAfricanGamesin AfricanSportsConfederationandOlympic
Maputo,Mozambique. Committee(SASCOC)finallysteppedinto
Butwhatfollowedwasadownwardspiral provideassistance,settingManyongaupat
that was as shocking as it was quick, as he the High Performance Centre in Pretoria,
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