Cheswill Johnson – It hurts to miss out on the Commonwealth Games again

The 2024 Olympian has shifted his focus to sprinting this season and needs to run a qualifying time for the Games, set for Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August.

Johnson has been included in Team SA’s 4x100m squad for the World Relay Championships in Gaborone from 2–3 May, but to secure an individual 100m spot for the Commonwealth Games, he will need to improve on his current 10.04 seconds and break the sub-10 barrier.

"Most likely I'm going to go as a sprinter. If my form keeps exactly how I know it's going to be I'll be going as a sprinter. It does hurt me that I am now missing out on two Commonwealth Games. The previous one I couldn't go because of travel arrangements now I can't go because obviously I'm not jumping but it's more harder to be in the sprints than doing that," said Johnson

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Despite the challenge ahead, Johnson remains confident. He believes that if he qualifies, he has what it takes to compete for a medal. 

He is hoping that competing against a strong international field at the upcoming Simbine Classic will help him achieve a sub-10 performance.

The 28-year-old University of Johannesburg graduate says training alongside his teammates has been a big boost. He draws motivation from the competitive environment at UJ, which continues to push him to improve.

Now working as a freelancer, Johnson admits that making a living as an athlete in Africa is not easy. 

Since finishing his studies, he has found it challenging to balance his career and finances, highlighting the broader struggles faced by athletes on the continent.