Lionel claims gold at Golden Fly street event in Geneva

Namibian long jump national record holder Lionel Coetzee clinched gold at the prestigious Golden Fly Series in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday.

Coetzee, who set Namibia’s national record at 8.27 metres in Windhoek during April 2023, triumphed with an impressive leap of 7.99 metres, narrowly defeating Bozhidar Sarâboyuvok (7.96m) of Bulgaria and Anvar Anvarovs (7.87) of Uzbekistan, who claimed silver and bronze respectively.

Reflecting on his victory, Coetzee expressed his joy at participating in his first-ever street athletics event.

“It was my first time competing in a street event, and I feel very happy and blessed to win. Competing in a street event is a dream come true – it’s a different atmosphere compared to an athletics stadium. The crowd was electrifying,” he said.

The Golden Fly Series, known for bringing athletics to urban settings, held its Swiss debut against the picturesque backdrop of Lake Geneva and the iconic Jet d’Eau fountain. The unique format brings elite sports closer to the public, offering fans a thrilling experience with top-class talent invited to compete.

With this gold, Coetzee adds another accolade to his growing list of achievements, cementing his status as one of Namibia’s top athletes on the international stage.

In June this year, Coetzee won the silver medal at the 23rd African Athletics Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon – his first continental competition. With a 7.78 m jump, he was placed second on count-back following an equal performance from Goodness Iredia of Nigeria who was awarded the gold.