Luvo Manyonga Holds Off On Pretoria Return As He Gushes About Long Jump

Luvo Manyonga has put his return to competition in Pretoria on hold because of a hamstring niggle, but the former world champion who recently completed his second doping offence ban spoke on Tuesday about his love for long-jumping.

Manyonga, speaking at the press conference before the first Athletics South Africa grand prix meet at Pilditch Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, said he felt free when flying through the air.

For me, jumping, it feels like freedom, said the 34-year-old who won the 2017 world title, 2016 Olympic silver and 2018 Commonwealth Games. Those seconds when Im in the air, I feel free.

Jumping is a nice thing for me ... Its making people smile. Entertaining is the best thing for me.

Manyonga, who served a four-year ban for whereabouts violations during the Covid-19 pandemic, said he was unable to compete at Pilditch after picking up a hamstring niggle during his first competition back at Stellenbosch recently.