Mokoena returns to his roots

SA star athlete aims for gold in long and triple jump at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in June

LONG jump star Khotso Mokoena is targeting two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in June, saying he is confident of also doing well in his first love, triple jump.

Mokoena, 29, who has joined leading jumping coach Emmarie Fouche’s training group at the University of Johannesburg, is using the Commonwealth Games as a dress rehearsal for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

A gymnast as a boy growing up in Ratanda township near Heidelburg, Mokoena is after gold medals in the long and triple jump in Rio de Janeiro.

“Triple jump is the event [in which] I excelled when I was still a

People will see the difference. I’m going to win medals again at international competitions

little boy,” said Mokoena, who won the triple jump national title last week.

“It’s just that I have been paying too much attention when it comes to long jump competitions.

“I have decided to do long and triple jump at the Commonwealth Games, and will take it from there. I’m confident that I will do well, though I expect some serious competition from the other guys, since I have not done triple jump internationally in a long time.

“It’s not like I’m going for something completely new in my life. When I first went to the Olympics, in Athens in 2004, I did the triple jump. I also have a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Australia in 2006.

“The Commonwealth Games will give me an idea of what to expect in Brazil and the areas I have to perfect so that I will finally win gold at the Olympics.”

Mokoena has moved from Pretoria to Johannesburg to be closer to Fouche.

Fouche contributed to the success of Zarck Visser, who won the national long jump title in 2012 and 2013 — an event previously dominated by Mokoena.

Visser boasts a personal best of 8.32m, the second-best jump by a South African after Mokoena’s 8.50m in Madrid in 2009.

A former basketball player at high school, the lanky Mokoena is also the national triple jump record holder with 17.25m, set in 2005.

“I decided to come and work with Emmarie because of the success of her camp — her athletes are doing well by winning their events.

“She is a specialist when it comes to the jumps. I will also benefit a great deal from being in the same camp with Zarck,” said Mokoena.

“I was without a coach for a year, working on my own, so having Emmarie will help me to focus more.

“People will see the difference. I’m going to win medals again at international competitions and contribute to the success of my country.”

The Beijing Olympics long jump silver medallist, Mokoena is preparing for the Diamond League meeting in Doha, Qatar, on May 9, where he will do triple jump.

“It’s one of the big track and field meetings; I’m looking forward to winning. The focus is now more on international competitions after the national championships. The Diamond League meets will also help in terms of preparing for the Commonwealth Games because we have some of the best athletes.”

On winning the national triple jump championship in Tshwane last weekend, Mokoena said: “It was such a great feeling to do triple jump again, where I competed against some of my old friends. I’m happy with my performance.

“I’m looking forward to a great year, including doing well at the African Senior Championships in Morocco in August.

“I also want to be part of a successful Team South Africa going there.

“The success of Simon Magakwe in breaking the 100m national record has inspired some of us to realise that nothing is impossible when you work hard.”

sports@timesmedia.co.za