Cheswill, a diamond discovered
“When the Diamond family introduced me to club athletics I did not know anything. I was 18 and the only knowledge I had about athletics was school athletics or watching the world championships. They helped me start my journey,” said Johnson.
Lambton resident and long jump rising star Cheswill Johnson has qualified for the Olympic Games. He secured his place when he leapt to 8.27m at the Athletics Gauteng North Bestmed Tuks Track and Field meeting in Pretoria on February 27.
The 23-year-old logistics student at the University of Johannesburg said this was a special moment for him.
“It’s a great feeling and it’s a very special memory I’ll have for the rest of my life. It means a lot to me, my family and my community because being part of the Olympics is the highest honour to an athlete. This event only happens once every four years,” said Johnson.
The young athlete said he has been working hard. “I was expecting to qualify, considering that last year I was only 2cm off the qualifying mark. I prepared myself well for this, so the question was when I would hit that qualification mark,” he said.
He said he has always been competitive and wanted to be the best. “I’ve always believed in myself. My mindset has always been set on being the best because I am a very competitive and motivated person.” Johnson was discovered by the Diamond family in 2016.
John Diamond and his wife, Maria, run an athletics club based in Germiston. The Diamond Athletic Club has made it its mission to allow youngsters to use their athletic talents to excel in life.
John, who is the founder of the club and also the president of the Germiston Local Sport Confederation, said they are proud of Johnson and how far he has come.
“We are happy and proud of him. When we discovered him and his brother we saw potential in him. As coaches with an eye for talent, we knew if we could work with and fine-tune him he would reach his full potential and here we are now. This feeling is more fulfilling than anything in the world,” said John.
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Johnson said he is thankful that the Diamond family introduced him to athletics. “When the Diamond family introduced me to club athletics I did not know anything. I was 18 and the only knowledge I had about athletics was school athletics or watching the world championships. They helped me start my journey,” said Johnson.
His commitment and hard work paid off. “I have been consistent and patient. I pushed myself to be the best. I don’t get complacent with what I have,” he added.
He said his journey had challenges, but he never allowed that to hinder him from achieving his goals. “The journey has not been easy, from trying to get sponsors to not getting any recognition from anyone because everyone was focused on other athletes to having to train alone for three years and having struggles, I had to push myself and motivate myself that it will all be worth it,” he said.
Johnson said he was grateful that he pushed through even during the lockdown. “Last year I was in the zone, I was in the Olympic mood. I was focused on qualifying but Covid-19 hit us and everything was on hold. It did not mean we had to relax. I pushed myself. It was rough because motivation is way harder.”
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.
