Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (© Getty Images)
The 2008 world indoor long jump champion Godfrey Mokoena answers the IAAF’s work, rest and play questions.
The South African also won long jump silver medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, 2009 World Championships and 2010 World Indoor Championships and made the finals of the London 2012 Olympics and 2013 World Championships.
He plans to compete in both the long jump and triple jump in 2014. In the case of the latter event, he was the 2004 world junior champion but has not competed in the triple jump outdoors since 2007.
GODFREY AT WORK
What are your three favourite things about being an athlete?
Godfrey Mokoena: One, I get to travel. Secondly, I get to meet different athletes around the world and thirdly I get to eat great food at the hotels. I love that.
What is your least favourite thing about being an athlete?
GM: Travelling from one airport to another to go to meetings, and getting up early the day after a meeting to a catch a flight to the next meeting. I hate that.
What is your favourite training session?
GM: I like it when we do the jump and bounding sessions. These are a lot easier than running 200m or 300m.
What is your least favourite training session?
GM: The 300m and the 200m. I hate running for a long way. I just like running 40 or 50 metres. I’m a typical long jumper.
Who is your all-time favourite training partner?
GM: He’s a South African triple jumper called Tumelo Thagane (with a personal best of 17.09m). We’ve been friends since school and we trained together for five years before we went our separate ways.
GODFREY AT REST
Where is your favourite place to relax?
GM: I like to relax in the garden by the roses and flowers. I like the flowers, the trees and the birds’ singing. It helps me relax.
Describe your perfect non-training day.
GM: I actually run a restaurant and on a non-training day I’d be there, listening to a live band and chilling.
What is your favourite stress-reliever?
GM: Driving, I love to get in the car. It helps me relax.
If you could choose one track and field athlete that you could relax with for a day, who would it be?
GM: Allyson Felix, because she always seems such a calm lady.
Name your favourite TV programme.
GM: I love watching the animals on the Discovery Channel. I love watching their behaviour, it is quite fascinating.
GODFREY AT PLAY
Where does your passion for music come from?
GM: When I was back at high school. I loved how people could express themselves through music.
Do you play any instruments?
GM: I play the piano. I never took any special classes but I was taught by a friend. I still like to play a bit. Whenever I’m next to a piano, I like to play.
What is your favourite musical experience?
GM: The best experience came watching a South African pop-rock band at the theatre called The Morning After. I love their music and the kind of songs they play.
Which track and field athlete has the best singing voice?
GM: I think Donald Thomas (the 2007 world high jump champion from The Bahamas). I’ve shared a room with him a few times and he likes singing. He is a really nice guy, but he sings too much!
Who is your all-time favourite music artist?
GM: Michael Jackson. He made the music industry become one. I like him because he was so different and unique in the world of music.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
