It's gold: Manyonga wins South Africa's first medal at IAAF World Championships

It’s gold: Manyonga wins South Africa’s first medal at IAAF World Championships

Luvo Manyonga added yet another medal to his ever expanding stack of silverware while teammate Ruswahl Samaai grabbed bronze.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 13: Luvo Manyonga of South Africa in the mens long jump final during the evening session on Day 8 Athletics of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Olympic Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Luvo Manyonga, long-jump super star, or the best long jumper ever, as his Twitter bio says, bagged South Africa’s first medal at the IAAF World Championships on Saturday night.

Despite struggling with a few injury niggles this year, Manyonga was one of the top contenders at the 2017 IAAF World Championships. And he delivered.

Starting with a foul, his second leap of 8.48m set the tone for what was to be a tight tussle between him and American Jarrion Lawson. Four jumps in and Manyonga’s second jump of 8.48m looked like it’d be enough to earn him the gold. After five rounds, the picture remained the same, and after six rounds, it was enough to earn Manyonga gold.

Ruswahl Samaai meanwhile, had leapt into the bronze medal after his fifth jump with 8.27m and improved on his final round with 8.32m.

Manyonga, who shot to fame last year when he won silver at the Rio Olympics, has been a solid contender ever since. He has broken the South African and African long jump record multiple times since his Rio medal.

His story of overcoming addiction captured the hearts of the world, but he is no longer defined by that tag.

Instead, we know him for being the best long jumper the country has ever produced. And he’s only just getting started.