3. Luvo Manyonga

Manyonga has been so good this season that he was almost a certain pick in the teams of the fantasy Diamond Race players, a guaranteed winner who is unbeaten in 2017.

Having emerged from the shadows of his countryman Ruswahl Samaai who beat him to the African title on home soil in 2016, Manyonga has gone on to become the best jumper from the continent.

Luvo Manyonga in action at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Photo Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Manyonga came within 0.01cm of winning the Olympic GOLD medal in Rio, settling for Silver with 8.37m as Jeff Henderson pipped him to the title with his last-round effort of 8.38m.

That defeat didn’t crush the 26-year old; it only spurred him to work harder to be No.1. He indeed occupies that spot going to the World Champs, a position he would most likely retain after the competition.

Manyonga owns the four best jumps in the world this year, and they are distances over 8.60m, with his World Lead (WL) of 8.65m which he achieved in April being a new African Record.

Although he has been injured on some occasions this season, even having to withdraw at the Hengelo meet with just one valid jump of 8.62m which was enough to win him the competition, pulling out on precautionary measures, he now looks to be fully fit and ready to soar.

If there’s anyone that can stop Manyonga, it is himself, having somehow mastered the art of winning. For instance, he still won his event with a mark of 8.33m at the Stockholm Diamond League which didn’t have the best of conditions.

Defending champion Greg Rutherford withdrew from the competition with an injury, leaving Manyonga to worry about Samaai who has a Season’s Best (SB) of 8.49m, and also Tyrone Smith who is ranked No. 3 with 8.34m; not also forgetting the American duo of Jarrion Lawson and Henderson.

While Manyonga might not want to get too carried away, this is one field event we might just prepare to hear the South African anthem being played.

 

 
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Christopher Maduewesi
Athletics coverage was a discovery, having to move away from regularly writing about Football. Although it was initially daunting, but now being an authority in it makes the past effort worthwhile. From travelling on the same international flight with Nigerian athletes, to knowing you could easily interview: World Record holder Tobi Amusan, then Ese Brume, I have cut my teeth in this beat earning the trust of Athletics sources. Formerly the Content Manager-Sports at Ringier media Nigeria, Chris is a Senior Sports writer, Photographer & Community manager at Making of Champions.

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