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I almost gave up: Yego opens up on gruelling journey to fourth Olympic Games
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 03.07.24. | 15:06
The former world champion made his Olympic debut in London, in 2012, the same year he won his first African championship title, adding to his All-Africa Games gold from 2011
Julius Yego is yet to reclaim his 2015 form that saw him become a world champion in the most unlikely of disciplines for Kenyan athletics, javelin.
The former Olympic silver medalist is, however, not letting that stop him from writing more history for Kenya as he heads to his fourth Olympic Games, having qualified through world ranking, after missing out on the automatic qualification mark of 85.50m.
As he prepares for his fourth Summer Games, 35-year-old Yego admits it is a milestone that took all he had to achieve, confessing that he almost gave up the chase.
“It has been a tough journey, first coming back from a nagging injury and having to fight through other logistical challenges to get in some training and compete for a place in Paris,” Yego narrated to Mozzart Sport.
“I was losing hope, at some point convincing myself to settle for what I already had. It took a lot of self-talk to convince myself that this was achievable. I am happy to have persevered.”
Yego made his Olympic debut in London, in 2012, the same year he won his first African Championship title, adding to his All-Africa Games gold from 2011. He placed 12th with a 77.15m throw.
He was back at it in Rio, this time as one of the favourites, having stunned the world with gold off a 92.72m throw that remains a personal best (PB) at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China.
The reigning African silver medalist, however, retired from the competition after his fourth throw due to an ankle injury but won silver due to his first throw of 88.24m.
Another injury spell saw Yego place 13th at both the 2017 World Championships in London and the 2018 Commonwealth Games before an eighth-place finish in the 2019 World event in Doha.
At the Covid-19 delayed 2020 Tokyo Games, Yego managed a 24th place finish, the lowest the javelin star has ever finished internationally since his debut in 2010. He was part of Team Kenya at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships in Eugene and Budapest, finishing 14th and 17th respectively.
As he heads out to Paris, he believes a podium finish is within reach.
“In the remaining days, I have some work to do to get my technique right. Mentally I am in the right space and look forward to fighting for a podium place,” he concluded.
Personal Bests by year
2009 – 74.00
2010 – 75.44
2011 – 78.34
2012 – 81.81
2013 – 85.40
2014 – 84.72
2015 – 92.72
2016 – 88.24
2017 – 87.97
2018 – 80.91
2019 – 87.73
2021 - 77.34
2022 - 85.70
2023- 81.84
2024- 81.74 (so far)
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