Latest news with #JuliusYego
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Neeraj Chopra and my story more or less the same, say Julius Yego, only African javelin world champion
Juilus Yego made history when he became the first African world champion in the men's javelin throw in 2015. Hailing from Kenya, a long-distance powerhouse, Yego is an outlier in the sport. Ahead of the NC Classic, Yego, who picked up the sport by watching YouTube videos, talks about the rise of non-European throwers and the camaraderie in the javelin-thrower community. You were the breakout javelin start in Kenya, so is Neeraj in India. Do you see similarities? Julius Yego: It's more or less the same, the story of most javelin throwers other than those from Europe. Europe's infrastructure is very good. So if you see my story, you see the story of Neeraj Chopra, even you see the story of Anderson Peters from Grenada, and even (Arshad) Nadeem himself. We have the talent, but the problem comes of course with the infrastructure, training facilities. Decathlon athletes have a close bond? What about javelin throwers?. At the Lausanne Diamond League last year when Neeraj was finding it tough, you helped him relax Julius Yego: It is a culture we have had in the javelin and I also came to realize that even in the short put and in the pole vault it exists. World record holder (Mondo) Duplantis and the group are really close friends. They always cheer for him when a world record is broken. Even in javelin, when I came up Tero Pitkamaki was my idol. I watched YouTube videos of Pitkamaki and Andreas Thorkildsen. When I competed, I saw that they really supported each other.I remember in my first appearance in the Olympics in 2012, I had the opportunity to speak with Thorkildsen and then he told me your time will come. The only thing you need to do is just be patient. I came to realize that it is the reality of the sport. The main thing is the support you get from your fellow competitors especially in field events. What we love most in field events, especially in javelin, is the long throws. If your fellow competitor is having a 90 meter throw and you are not able to do it at that moment you just cheer up, show your support because your time will come. And when you will be throwing that far, you will need their support. READ MORE | Neeraj Chopra Classic: Neeraj is hands-on, wears many hats as he takes on role of NC Classic host Has javelin gained popularity in Kenya after your feats at the world level? Julius Yego: I think there are new talents coming up especially in the javelin, even among the ladies we have young throwers coming up. At the moment, we have a Kenyan girl who has thrown nearly 60 meters. Hopefully, she will be at the world championships. Even in other countries, we have very good javelin throwers coming up. You saw in Nigeria, we had an athlete going to the Olympics in the men's javelin last year and he (Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi) won the all African Games. He beat me. You can see the level is picking up. Last week also in Ostrava I saw a javelin thrower (Smit Peters) from South Africa doing 84 meters. READ MORE | Neeraj Chopra Classic: What impact does throwing javelin beyond 90m have on the body? Thomas Rohler, Julius Yego break it down In Kenya, which is a running country, has infrastructure improved for javelin? Julius Yego: On the equipment part, yes it has really changed because when we had the World Under-17 championship in Nairobi there was a bit of change. We had the equipment coming to Nairobi and then of course we had the World Under-20 also and then of course the Kip KeIno Classic. So you had to have the equipment. But on the coaching side, I think we need to have a very good level. Coaching in technical events requires a lot of changes. That is something I have said back home that we need to change our mode of coaching. Javelin is a technical event, but then there are some things that you need to change because I cannot throw like Jan Zelezny. I cannot throw like Neeraj Chopra and Chopra cannot throw like me. So you need somebody who understands these basic technical things. You started off by watching YouTube videos. So when you are back home are you involved in coaching? Julius Yego: There is a collaboration with a website, where I encourage young athletes to send their videos there and then I will give them feedback. I am happy to say that last week an athlete from the USA, his name is Jason, was number four in the national championship in his category. He was really buzzing with pride that he improved his throws after the little feedback I gave him. From India, they (budding athletes) just write to me on Instagram. Indians like Instagram. But sometimes it's difficult to reply to all of them because of the nature of the sport, sometimes you are busy. When I get time, I tell them this is what you are supposed to do. But it's difficult when you just say it. When you have the video (of the throws) it's the best thing because you can advise properly and help someone.
India Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Fadnavis did what Balasaheb couldn't: Raj Thackeray slams Maharashtra Chief Minister
8:26 Legendary Kenyan athlete Julius Yego is in Bengaluru to compete in the Neeraj Chopra classic. Yego, in an exclusive interview says that his and Neeraj's journies are the same.
India Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Julius Yego Interview: From Kenya to Bengaluru, for javelin and friendship
In a powerful symbol of global camaraderie and sporting spirit, Julius Yego, the 'YouTube Man' and one of javelin's most inspiring figures, has landed in Bengaluru for the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025. As India hosts its first-ever international javelin tournament at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the Kenyan legend's presence is more than ceremonial. For Yego, who shares a unique bond with Neeraj Chopra, this is a chance to support a fellow trailblazer and help elevate the sport across regions where javelin once struggled to find former world champion and Olympic silver medallist, Yego's journey from throwing sticks on his father's farm to standing on global podiums remains one of track and field's most remarkable stories. His personal best of 92.72m, which came in 2015, is the 19th best ever in Chopra Classic: Preview Julius Yego (far left) at the Neeraj Chopra Classic. (PTI Photo) In a country synonymous with long-distance running, he carved out space for an ancient sport that few around him understood. Largely self-taught through YouTube tutorials in the absence of coaching infrastructure, Yego's rise was nothing short of revolutionary - for Kenya and for the javelin world at 36, Yego approaches the twilight of his career with hard-earned clarity. He speaks of longevity with humility, acknowledging his past milestones but refusing to let them define his present. Whether or not Los Angeles 2028 becomes his fifth Olympic appearance, Yego's focus remains on giving back—through friendship, mentorship, and helping the next generation witness the sport up close. 'We're not enemies. We're friends,' he says, summing up both his philosophy and the mood this weekend in Classic: All You Need to KnowExcerpts from exclusive interview with Julius YegoQ: Hello, Julius. Welcome to India! You've been here for 2–3 days now. How has your experience been so far?Yego: This is actually my second time in India. The first was back in 2010 during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. I really like this place—the people, the atmosphere—it's great. The environment is nice and it's also good for training, so yes, I'm enjoying it.Q: What made you say yes to coming for the Neeraj Chopra Classic?Yego: We want to make this sport more popular in our countries. If you look at Neeraj's story and mine, they're quite similar. We come from places where javelin hasn't had much attention. But it's the love for the sport that drives us. The dream is to promote javelin not just in Kenya and India, but also in other countries where it hasn't grown is a good friend of mine, and I want to support him. You never know when you might need that support in return. It's important for us to be here, to bring the sport closer to the younger generation, so they can see world-class javelin throwers live, not just on TV, and get inspired.Q: How did you discover and fall in love with javelin?Yego: I honestly believe I was born for this. Somewhere in my blood, it's written, javelin. It's an ancient sport, one of the original Olympic events from ancient Greece, and I just loved it from the course, the beginning was difficult. There were no proper facilities, and javelin wasn't even a recognized path in sports back home. But I kept pushing. The talent was God-given, and I couldn't ignore it. I started it in Kenya, and I hope in the coming years we'll see more javelin athletes from my country.Q: Is it true that you started throwing sticks on your father's farm as a kid?advertisementYego: Yes, that's true! We started by throwing sticks, but it wasn't about training. It was just kids playing around. It was only in high school that I realised javelin is actually a serious sport. That was around 2004 when I watched the Olympics in Athens and saw Andreas Thorkildsen moment really inspired me. Even though the infrastructure and education system in Kenya didn't support sport much, I began to take it seriously. We used to throw with my brothers and friends in the village, just for fun. We had no idea it would grow into something so big. But that's how it started and I think a lot of athletes begin in a similar way.Q: You're famous for having trained by watching YouTube videos. What advice would you give to young kids who want to pursue javelin?Yego: It's not just about watching. It's about what you do with what you watch. You have to take those videos and apply them. You need today, video analysis is part of our training routine. But if you're just watching for the sake of watching, it won't help. Watch with intent. Learn. Let it shape your technique and discipline. Make it a positive influence on your life, not just Why is there such camaraderie among javelin throwers?Yego: It's something I found when I joined the sport. Athletes like Jan elezn and Andreas Thorkildsen were always open to talking to us, even when we were young and just starting tradition of openness and friendliness is part of the sport. Javelin throwers, and even in other field events like pole vault, you'll see a lot of mutual support. We're competitors, yes, but we're not enemies. Once the competition ends, we go back to being friends. That's how it should be.Q: You're 36 now, still competing at a high level. What's your immediate goal? Are you thinking about 2028 Olympics?Yego: Right now, it's about taking it step by step. I don't want to give myself huge dreams again. I've already achieved a lot: world champion, Olympic silver medalist, appearing in nearly every major championship since 2010. That's a big course, I'd love to make history by reaching LA 2028—that would be my fifth Olympics—but only if my body allows it. Last year, many people didn't even think I'd make the finals, but I was among the top five in the world. The level of competition matters more than just showing up. In 2021, when Neeraj won the Olympics, I believe I was capable of winning, too. So we'll see what the future Finally, what's your message to your friend Neeraj Chopra? Where do you want to see him go in his career?Yego: I wish him all the best. This event has already been a success, and with just a few hours to the competition, I hope it ends on a high wants to throw over 90 metres. We challenged him yesterday—if our bodies still allow us, we'll push him! He's still young, and he has many years ahead. But beyond personal success, it's about making the sport grow—bigger throws, more fans, and more global recognition for javelin.- EndsMust Watch
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Yego battles to keep javelin's future alive in Kenya
Julius Yego, the former world champion famously known as "Mr. YouTube", faces a lonely battle to preserve javelin's future in Kenya as he prepares for Saturday's Neeraj Chopra Classic with the weight of an entire sport on his shoulders. The 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist stands as Kenya's sole representative in javelin at World Athletics Championships, a contrast to his country's dominance in distance running that has produced athletes like Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon. "India, of course, being a very big economy, has really been able to help Chopra. I would say maybe the Kenyan story is a little bit different because there isn't much support in the sport as such," Yego told Reuters. "You can see it's only me who is still there. I'm in the last stages of my career and then we haven't got big support as I would want it to happen, but hopefully it will continue. "I can't even push when I'm not there (retired). So I can't even be part of the people who really want to make the change when I'm not active," added 36-year-old Yego, who won the world title in 2015. Coming from countries with less exposure in athletics, Yego finds kinship with Chopra in their shared mission to expand javelin globally. "We want to make the sport grow even bigger because it is a footprint that matters a lot. What we have done so far and what will happen after us, we want the sport to continue even when we are no longer there," the 36-year-old said. With the worlds looming in Tokyo in September, Yego said he was operating at "90 per cent fitness" due to injury concerns and with a couple of months to go before the competition starts, he does not want to rush into anything. The Kenyan also reflected on his country's depth of talent in athletics, praising triple world and Olympic 1,500 metres champion Kipyegon's recent achievements. Kipyegon last month fell short in her attempt to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes when she clocked 4:06.42 in a Nike "Breaking4" project that, though faster than her own world record, will not be ratified. "Kenya has big talent, especially in track. Faith's done so well. She's done great in her push to break the four-minute barrier," he said. However, he expressed a particular interest in nurturing "the next generation of javelin throwers." Apart from Yego, Irene Jepkemboi can be his country's next hope in the sport after she became the first Kenyan female athlete to surpass the 60-metre mark in the javelin last month.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Athletics-Yego battles to keep javelin's future alive in Kenya
FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 08, 2024. Julius Yego of Kenya in action REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo (Reuters) -Julius Yego, the former world champion famously known as "Mr. YouTube", faces a lonely battle to preserve javelin's future in Kenya as he prepares for Saturday's Neeraj Chopra Classic with the weight of an entire sport on his shoulders. The 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist stands as Kenya's sole representative in javelin at World Athletics Championships, a contrast to his country's dominance in distance running that has produced athletes like Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon. "India, of course, being a very big economy, has really been able to help Chopra. I would say maybe the Kenyan story is a little bit different because there isn't much support in the sport as such," Yego told Reuters. "You can see it's only me who is still there. I'm in the last stages of my career and then we haven't got big support as I would want it to happen, but hopefully it will continue. "I can't even push when I'm not there (retired). So I can't even be part of the people who really want to make the change when I'm not active," added 36-year-old Yego, who won the world title in 2015. Coming from countries with less exposure in athletics, Yego finds kinship with Chopra in their shared mission to expand javelin globally. "We want to make the sport grow even bigger because it is a footprint that matters a lot. What we have done so far and what will happen after us, we want the sport to continue even when we are no longer there," the 36-year-old said. With the worlds looming in Tokyo in September, Yego said he was operating at "90% fitness" due to injury concerns and with a couple of months to go before the competition starts, he does not want to rush into anything. The Kenyan also reflected on his country's depth of talent in athletics, praising triple world and Olympic 1,500 metres champion Kipyegon's recent achievements. Kipyegon last month fell short in her attempt to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes when she clocked 4:06.42 in a Nike "Breaking4" project that, though faster than her own world record, will not be ratified. "Kenya has big talent, especially in track. Faith's done so well. She's done great in her push to break the four-minute barrier," he said. However, he expressed a particular interest in nurturing "the next generation of javelin throwers." Apart from Yego, Irene Jepkemboi can be his country's next hope in the sport after she became the first Kenyan female athlete to surpass the 60-metre mark in the javelin last month. (Reporting by Suramya Kaushik in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
