Performances in training can't be trusted

If you want to know what kind of shape an athlete is in, don’t ever ask their coach or manager.

- Wesley Botton

Over the years, I’ve heard endless people claiming athletes are destroying it in training, only for them to bomb out when they enter a competition.

The people overseeing the careers of athletes are biased. They will exaggerate times and distances achieved in training, perhaps in an attempt to boost the confidence of their athletes, but also to talk them up ahead of an event and instill fear in their opposition.

The team around experienced long jumper Luvo Manyonga claimed this week he had leaped 8.31 metres in a training session, and though I really hope this is true, we can’t take much from it.

I love Manyonga.

I always have.