Second chances are indeed a thing as Luvo Manyonga secures first African Championship gold amid triumphant comeback.
South Africa’s own Olympic silver medallist Luvo Manyonga continued his comeback with victory in the men’s long jump, where his opening leap of 8.15m was enough to secure gold.
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Despite a highly successful career, this is the 35-year-old South African’s first African Championship title.
Luvo told Olympics.com post-race, “I’m very happy to arrive here, competing and winning. I miss this feeling, and my comeback just shows that second chances are possible.”
The last time he represented South Africa was at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
He remains a highly decorated athlete, having won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and claiming gold at the 2017 World Championships in London, which made him the first African long jump world champion.
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At the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Manyonga added to his tally with a silver medal and a few weeks later claimed Commonwealth gold on the Gold Coast in Australia, setting a new Games record.
Manyonga’s career is not only one of medals; it has been shaped by addiction and two career bans that broke the hearts of many South Africans and nearly ended it all, but he has navigated a turbulent career marked by a well-documented battle with drug addiction and two doping-related bans.
His first suspension came in 2012 after testing positive for crystal meth, a substance he had struggled with since the age of 17.
Mzansi is proud to have him back on the world stage again.
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Feature Image: Supplied
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