After narrowly missing the GOLD medal by just 1cm at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the men’s Long Jump final at the London World Championships ended on a high note for South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga who refused to be denied the title.
The World Leader and African Record holder was the firm favourite coming to the World Championships. However, he was injured at some point in the season and had to take precautionary measures so as not to bungle his chances of taking the title.
Manyonga, who set an African Record of 8.65m in April, was fouled on his first attempt but bounced back on his second after soaring to a leap of 8.48m, which was good enough for GOLD. American rival Jarrion Lawson responded with a jump of 8.43m and bettered the mark by 1cm on his final attempt, before settling for Silver.
Manyonga’s compatriot and African Champion Ruswahl Samaai also claimed his first World Championships silverware, taking the Bronze medal with a jump of 8.32m which he secured in his final attempt.
Speaking to reporters after the event at the London Olympic Stadium, Manyonga disclosed that he wasn’t fond of remembering the moment he lost the GOLD medal to USA’s Jeff Henderson in Rio last year, especially as a similar scenario almost played out this evening in London when he was fouled on his last attempt whilst Lawson still had one more jump left.
He said, “Wow, two medals for South Africa. I do not feel like thinking about the last attempt in 2016, this brings back bad memories. It does not matter anymore because I have the GOLD medal now. This GOLD medal makes me feel over the moon. I have been praying to get this GOLD medal.
“The World Record (WR) is my next goal. Ruswahl and me are pushing each other through events. I am the best in the world – this sounds great.”
Lawson who settled for Silver said: “Finally I am on the podium. I am feeling good. Just to come to this track, it would have been a hard season for me. I was just saying to myself, ‘Have fun and have fun from the first jump to the last jump.’ I enjoyed myself and thank God for the Silver medal.
“I have known him since last year. We have become good friends and good competitors. Just four centimetres from each other. I am just glad for what we did. Definitely it was a good competition for the fans and we supported each other. I will definitely remember London, thanks to the crowd.”
Meanwhile Lithuania’s Andrius Gudzius upstaged World Leader Daniel Stahl to snatch the men’s Discus title in a lifetime best of 69.21m.
The 26-year old began to dominate the field from his very first throw which landed at 67.52m, before extending his lead with his winning mark on his second attempt.
Beijing 2015 finalist Stahl sought for a response but eventually finished just 2cm shy of the GOLD medal, settling for Silver with 69.19m. The Swedish thrower is the only man to have thrown over 70m this season with his World Lead (WL) of 71.29m.
USA’s Mason Finley claimed Bronze with a Personal Best (PB) of 68.03m.
