JOHANNESBURG - Former world 200m bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana has a busy year ahead with a new addition to his family expected to arrive shortly before the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia in April.
Jobodwana and his American-born wife Taylor Monae, who married just over a year ago, are expecting their first child in late March with the news giving him a new perspective on life and his career.
“I am very nervous but mostly it is excitement, I didn’t think this moment would come so quickly and it isn’t like we planned it which makes it more exciting,” Jobodwana said at the launch of a new three-meet track and field series.
“I think it would only hit me completely when the baby is born so you have those nine months to kind of gather your thoughts.”
Jobodwana’s maiden appearance in the 200m final at the London 2012 Olympic Games is considered to be one of the catalysts to the current sprinting revolution in the country.
The 25-year-old Jobodwana experienced a disappointing last two years on the track thanks to a niggling injury which, coupled with a lack of racing, saw him crash out in the heats of the half-lap sprint in Rio 2016.
After the disappointment of also missing out on this year’s IAAF World Championships in London, Jobodwana did some serious thinking about whether he should continue in the sport.
. @_ambitious_jay speaking at the launch of the Athletix Grand Prix Series set for March 2018. We could see some of the world's fastest men race in the series. And we are only talking about local athletes. pic.twitter.com/jfUBZws335
— Ockert de Villiers (@ockertde) December 6, 2017
Although he has already left an indelible mark on South African track and field, the impending birth of his child has forced him into deeper contemplation about who he is as an athlete, a person, and now future father.
“I was never one of those people to have to leave a legacy, I never saw myself as a role model per se because I am human and will do wrong things,” Jobodwana said.
“Now I have to set an example because I want my child to treat people fairly, with dignity whether it is a cleaner on the street or a CEO.
“That means I have to set the example and I have to look at how I treat people. With that comes introspection of, whether I am treating people how they should be.”
I can’t wait to meet this tiny human, we have a lot to discuss about making me sick, and not letting me eat chicken!
— Taylor Monae J. (@CantbTAYmed) November 30, 2017
Jobodwana has a few busy months ahead which could include the World Indoor Championships in March, the Commonwealth Games, European races, the African Championships and possibly the Continental Cup in Ostrava in September.