'Crocodile' wins silver for SA
2008-08-18 22:12
Johannesburg - Team South Africa's Khotso Mokoena sporting his lucky open fingered glove planted himself 8.24m from the long jump take off board to secure the Olympic silver medal.
"The glove has some crocodile skin on the underside and my name means crocodile so I wear it when I jump," said the man from Potchefstroom, who turned South African fortunes at the Olympic Games.
Mokoena opened his account with a 7.86m, although disappointing in distance it put him on the board where many had struggled to get their run-up in rhythm. The fast track at the Beijing's Bird Nest stadium saw all but two athletes over-stepping resulting in lower than expected distances.
Zimbabwe's Ngonidzashe Makusha's opening 8.19 gave him the lead which lasted until Panama's Irving Saladino's third round 8.21.
Mokeona fouled his second trial, running right through the pit. "The track is very fast, with the second jump I felt I was going to hurt myself so I just ran through with the third jump I just had to do it," said Mokoena, who got enough momentum in the third trial to reach 8.02m, which was sufficient to place him in the top five before the cut to the final eight.
Stretched the ante
The change in the jumping order saw the 23-year-old hit the board squarely, and his momentum helped launch him 8.24m to take the lead. But his gold medal position was short-lived as the Saladino's fourth jump stretched the ante a further 10cm to reclaim the gold. Both Mokoena and Saladino fouled their remaining two jumps.
Cuban Ibrahim Camejo with a final jump of 8.20 took him through to third for the bronze.
"I came to the Games hoping to get into the finals and I went into the finals hoping to get any medal whether it's a bronze silver or gold. I just wanted to do well and the fact that God blessed me with the silver - I'm very happy," said a beaming Mokoena, who believes there are still members of Team South Africa that are going to do well in the Games.
"I was hoping for a new PB (8.39m) today, that could have got a gold medal, but it didn't happen and I just want to thank the Lord that I got a medal. It's something for me to cherish for the rest of my life," said Mokoena who has regenerated the spirit of Team SA.
'SA must have more faith in team'
"We are very proud of his performance and achievement. Khotso has proved that indeed he is one of the best in the world. He has done Team SA and the country proud by putting us on the medal table". said Hajera Kajee, the chef de Mission
"Silvers a win for Khotso, a win for athletics and a win for South Africa," said Ruben Ramolefi in celebrating Mokoena's silver medal after his own disappointment in the 3000m steeplechase final.
"I would just like South Africa to have more faith in our team and be more positive about us. We have had six athletes compete so far and four have made the finals, and now we have a silver medal. It's time that the potential of the team is recognised.
"He saved the whole of Team South Africa and I'm really pleased for him," added LJ van Zyl who made the 400m hurdle final, finishing fifth behind the Americans, who collected all three medals.
"We are not finished yet, we have a good (4x400 relay) team for Friday, let's wait and see," He added
- SAPA