Tuks Sport honour their Olympians
The University of Pretoria Sports Department and the Tuks High Performance Centre held a function on the University's campus last night honouring their Olympians. Trevor Cramer was there.
Among the Olympic medallists present were rower Shaun Keeling and long jumper Luvo Manyonga, who are both Tuks-HPC-sponsored athletes.
Swimmer Cameron van der Burgh, sprinters Akani Simbini and Carina Horn, hurdler LJ van Zyl, middle distance athlete Irvette van Zyl, rowers John Smith and James Thompson and high school prodigy Gift Leotela, among others, are also a products of the Tuks-HPC.
Trevor Cramer caught up with Luvo Manyonga, who ended his season on a high with an impressive leap of 8.48 metres at the Diamond League event in Brussels last week.
Manyonga surprised friend and foe alike by capturing the silver medal in the men's long jump at the Rio Olympics last month.
The chatty, lively, confident athlete said he had become well aware when he got back from Rio already that he had now become public property and his life would never be the same again, but he hoped to remain grounded and continue doing what he does best -- winning.
Manyonga said without the incredible support and back up of coach Neil Cornelius and the Tuks-HPC. he would never have realised his Olympic dream.