Khotso Mokeona elected to Sascoc board and officially retires

It is official; four-time Olympian Khotso Mokoena is now a board member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc). Last night the 2008 Olympic silver medalist was elected as the new chairperson of the athletes' commission, which means Mokoena automatically becomes a Sascoc board member. Six athletes representing a range of sports were appointed to the SASCOC Athletes' Commission for the next four-year cycle following virtual elections two weeks ago.

In addition to the ling jump star, the new members include; Bridgitte Hartley, bronze medalist in the K1 500 metres canoeing at the London 2012 Games; Ernst van Dyk who is a double Paralympic and world para-cycling champion; Sizwe Ndlovu, who won gold in the coxless fours rowing at London 2012; Jeff Coetzee, tennis doubles specialist and Davis Cup player; and Louzanne Coetzee, 2016 Paralympian and holder of the women’s 5,000m world record in the T11 visual impairment category. Four other athletes will be co-opted to represent the non-Olympic and non-Paralympic sport as well as to address any gender imbalance.

Yesterday those other athletes elected The Crocodile (as he is affectionately known) as their representative on the board for the next four-year cycle, with the announcement expected to made later this week. “I am excited to be the new chairperson. It is a dream come true. I have always wanted to venture into administration and it has finally happened," said Mokoena. The man who turned 36 on 6 March, has also officially retired and now wants to focus his efforts on serving athletes on a full time basis. The lanky, long jumper will be officially presented by Sascoc in a press conference later in the week. He told #TheTopRunner that he is ready to serve, listen and assist to take care of the needs of athletes.