Godfrey Khotso Mokoena

Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (born March 6, 1985 in Heidelberg, South Africa) is a South African athlete who specializes in the long jump and triple jump. He started his school education at Shalimar Ridge Primary School in Heidelberg, Gauteng. He excelled at gymnastics at a very early age. He matriculated atNigel high School, Nigel. His talent at Long Jump was discovered by Elna de Beer. In 2008 he won long jump at the world indoor championships and si... more

Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (born March 6, 1985 in Heidelberg, South Africa) is a South African athlete who specializes in the long jump and triple jump. He started his school education at Shalimar Ridge Primary School in Heidelberg, Gauteng. He excelled at gymnastics at a very early age. He matriculated atNigel high School, Nigel. His talent at Long Jump was discovered by Elna de Beer. In 2008 he won long jump at the world indoor championships and silver at the Olympic games. In July 2009 he set a new African record in long jump, 8.50m in Madrid in an IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting where he finished second behind Fabrice Lapierre. The previous African record, 8.46, was held by Cheikh Toure of Senegal and set in 1997 . Phakiso Mokoena, father of Godfrey, was quoted in a local newspaper "Godfrey initially found it difficult to qualify for the Olympics, but has through hard work endured and finished second in the world." IAAF profile for Godfrey Khotso Mokoena less