Africa-Press – Kenya. Julius Yego believes the stars are aligning for a fairytale comeback as he targets the javelin throw gold at the World Championships in Tokyo this September, 10 years since he made history in Beijing 2015.
Nicknamed “The YouTube Man” for teaching himself the art of javelin through online videos, Yego carved his name into Kenya’s athletics folklore in 2015 by becoming the first, and only, Kenyan to win a world title in a field event.
Yego launched a massive 92.72m throw, leading Egypt’s Ihab El-Sayed (88.99m) and Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki (87.64m ) to the podium.
Now 36, Yego is the country’s sole javelin representative at the Tokyo showpiece, and he believes he still has the fire and form to roll back the years.
“The ultimate goal at the World Championships is winning the title. I won it in 2015 and I feel I am ready to do it again in Tokyo,” Yego said.
Tokyo could be his final chance to challenge for the title.
“I have to go for it. It will be hard for me to go to another World Championship,” he added.
Yego relayed his readiness for the global show, buoyed by his performances throughout the 2025 season.
“I feel ready. My performance this season is encouraging. Hopefully, I can keep up that intensity in the remaining days before Tokyo,” he said.
Yego launched his 2025 campaign at the Doha Diamond League in May, securing ninth place after a 78.52m throw.
The meeting saw Germany’s Julian Weber unleash a world-leading 91.06m to claim victory.
Neeraj Chopra soared into the 90m club with 90.23m, while Olympic bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada threw 85.64m for third.
In front of home fans at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on May 31, Yego once again struggled to find his groove, placing ninth with a below-par 74.71m.
Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva (86.34m) claimed top honours, with Germany’s Thomas Röhler (80.79m) and Portugal’s Leandro Ramos (80.68m) completing the podium.
However, Yego turned his season around the following month with two dominant displays in Finland.
At the Motonet GP meet on June 11, he uncorked a season’s best of 82.95m to beat 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott (79.98m) and Finland’s Taneli Juutinen (78.24m) to the title.
Six days later, at the Turku Continental meet, he threw 83.08m to claim victory.
His form, however, dipped again at the Paris Diamond League on June 26, finishing sixth with an 80.26m throw.
Chopra (88.16m), Julian Weber of Germany (87.88m) and Da Silva (86.62m) claimed the podium.
Yego improved his season’s best on July 5 at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in India, launching an 84.51m throw for silver behind Chopra (86.18m).
After having tested his mantle against the world’s best in this year’s competitions, Yego reckons he is up to the task.
“This year, I have competed against the favourites of the past years, and I feel I am at the same level as them. “The programme I have been following is also helping me a lot,” he noted.
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