Rynfield athlete aims to leap to Olympics

The athlete said his success in the high jump is due his perfect execution of the Fosbury Flop technique.

February 7, 2022

Lebohang Pita 2 minutes read

Moetlo Sefoka in the high jump, executing the Fosbury Flop at the CGA league meeting. He maintained his personal best 1.75m in this event and claimed first place.

When Khotso Mokoena leapt to a personal best of 8.50m in the long jump at the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Madrid in 2009, little did he know he will inspire a new generation of long jumpers.

In 2008, Mokoena had won a gold medal in the same event on March 7 at the World Indoor Championships and seven days later, his admirer and Benoni long jump sensation Moetlo Sefoka was born.

Sefoka, of Benoni Northerns Athletics Club, has raved about how the man from Heidelberg inspired him to take part in the sport and that he wants to be dominant like him.

“He is a great inspiration. I like the length of his jumps and the technique he uses. He has dominated the event and I want to emulate him.”

The Rynfield resident set a new personal best of 5.74m in the long jump and another in the high jump to claim first place in both events at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) league meeting in Boksburg recently.

“It was so unreal that even after the December break I have managed to improve my personal best in the long jump and maintain my average in the high jump,” the 14-year-old told the paper.

Last year, the Benoni High learner was placed first in the high jump with a leap of 1.75m to become the provincial champion in his age group. He was ranked second in South Africa.

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The long jump combines speed, strength and agility to jump as high as possible from the takeoff point. Sefoka attributed his success to hard work and his height.

“I have core strength and good balance. I am such a tall person, which gives me an advantage. I have jumped higher heights and distances than most of my peers.”

Like his idol, his technique in the long jump includes a focused stride to takeoff and jumping as high and far as possible.

“It’s just to protect me from the wind from pushing me back as I stride. It does help to give me core strength.”

He said his success in the high jump was due to his perfect execution of the Fosbury Flop technique.

“I run towards the bar and jump as high as I can to leap over the bar. The Fosbury Flop is my greatest strength.”

Sefoka’s mother, Monica, explained she sees her son going all the way to earn his national colours and representing South Africa at the Olympics.

“I see a bright future. I saw his potential when he started in 2019. He was always top of his age group. My wish is to see him on the world stage at the Olympic Games.

“He worked so hard to get where he is today. He gets better with every competition. I’m beyond grateful and proud of him. I wish to see him go all the way because he deserves it.”