Review Manyonga
One of the saddest moments in World Indoor Athletics Championships held in Toruń was seeing Review Manyonga shelf up Three fouls in the long jump, but one of the best moments was seeing him compete again.
For a while Luvo was one of the best long jumpers in the world.
2016 Olympic silver
2017 World Champion
2018 World Indoor Championship Silver and Commonwealth Champion
10 Diamond League winners
He had a PR of 8.85.
I spoke with him at the beginning of 2019. He told me that becoming world champion in 2017 was
“ it’s amazing and life changing,” adding, “It’s amazing to be labeled as a world champion. It gives me so much encouragement to build more confidence. Going to the 2019 World Cup would bring back fond memories. There will be some pressure on me to defend my title. (He finished 4th)
He was very sure that he had not reached his climax. “I will break the world record. The world record can be reached at any time.
He always looked happy while jumping. “Smiling during competitions is my personality. I just have this smiley, bubbly personality. It is not what I create. I am happy, in a good place. I have so much going on in my life that I have to celebrate them every day of my life.”
Then his life fell apart and he didn’t compete at all from 2019-2024.
According to the last article The Guardian: By Ben Bloom, he became addicted to drugs, including “using tik, a type of crystal meth that thrives in the townships of South Africa.” He received a 4-year ban for missing the location of dope tests. He was later cited The Guardian:“My life was crazy. I was just living for another fix. I got to the point where I was robbing people, taking phones, breaking into houses just to fix something. That’s how low I went. I just had to wake up in the morning and numb the pain because I didn’t want to admit I had a problem.” He cleaned himself up and decided to give the long jump another try.
In 2025, he jumped 8.02 and qualified for Torun with 8.11. Now 35 years old, no doubt he’s wasted his prime, but it would be great to see him have one last Harrah.
See further
Love happiness I I blew it – Search
Bing Videos links to YouTube interview with Luvo
Read Ben Bloom’s story in the Guardian on 19 March 2026 Review Manyonga.
