Reputed for his remarkable long and triple jump abilities, Khotso Mokoena had a lasting impression on South African track and field records.
His accomplishments include medals in prestigious competitions such as the Olympics and World Championships. He became the first South African long jumper to win an Olympic medal in 2008 when he won a historic silver in Beijing.
In an interview with The Citizen, Mokoena discussed his experiences after retiring and expressed his gratitude to God for all of his benefits.
“To be very honest, I believe that God has truly given me with a thinking mind since my retirement. And I believe that a thinking mind is one that is motivated to support and assist other athletes, which is just what I do.
assisting in the future talent development
Through his organisation, the Youth Athlete Skills Development Institute, or YASDI, Mokoena has redirected his attention to developing future talent off the track.
He expressed his desire to see athletes improve in their post-sport lives.
“I’m building a path for them to develop their skills and leveraging their strength—sports, in this case—to help them see life from a different angle once they graduate from sports.”
Mokoena stated that his goal is to give young athletes the fundamental life and business skills.
His ideas go beyond athletics. He claims that he sees athletes leading businesses in the future.
“One of my goals for the future is to witness several athletes transition from athletes to businesspeople, which is exactly what my institute is attempting to do.
“I would also like to advise the current athletes competing in the Olympics, as well as the young up-and-coming athletes, to think about what they want to accomplish and to keep thinking about it, especially if they are competing in the Olympic Games in Paris.”
