 |
Julius Yego
Date of Birth: 04.01.1989
Country:  Kenya |
Content:
- Early Life and Inspiration
- Rise to Prominence in Kenya
- International Breakthrough
- All-African Games and IAAF Scholarship
- Olympic Debut and National Record
- Fourth Place Finish at World Championships
- Commonwealth Games Victory and African Championship Title
- New Records and International Accolades
- World Championships Triumph
Early Life and Inspiration
Julius Yego, a Kenyan athlete specializing in javelin throw, was born in Cheptonon, Kenya. His passion for javelin throw emerged at a young age, inspired by watching videos of legendary athletes like Jan Železný and Andreas Thorkildsen.
Rise to Prominence in Kenya
Despite lacking a formal coach, Yego honed his skills through sheer determination and practice. In 2006, he won the national junior championship, breaking the Kenyan record. He went on to dominate the national scene, winning three consecutive titles from 2008 to 2010.
International Breakthrough
Yego's international debut came in 2010 at the African Athletics Championships in Nairobi, where he earned a bronze medal. He achieved personal bests at the Kenyan Commonwealth Games trials and competed in the Games in New Delhi, finishing seventh.
All-African Games and IAAF Scholarship
In 2011, Yego triumphed at the All-African Games, becoming the first Kenyan to win the event and setting a new national record. His success earned him an IAAF scholarship to train in Europe under the guidance of world-class coaches, preparing him for the London Olympics.
Olympic Debut and National Record
After a successful training stint in Finland, Yego secured a B-qualifying standard for the Olympics with a throw of 79.95 meters. At the Olympics, he improved his national record to 81.81 meters, but finished 12th overall.
Fourth Place Finish at World Championships
In 2013, Yego became the first Kenyan to reach the World Championships final, where he placed fourth. He extended his national record to 85.40 meters, just short of the bronze medal.
Commonwealth Games Victory and African Championship Title
The following year, at the Commonwealth Games, Yego surpassed Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott with a throw of 83.87 meters, becoming the first Kenyan to win the event. He added another gold medal at the African Championships, outperforming world champion Ihab Abdelrahman El-Sayed.
New Records and International Accolades
Yego's success continued in 2015. He set a new Kenyan record at the Ostrava Golden Spike with a 86.88-meter throw, which was initially disqualified due to a technicality. He improved upon that mark at the Golden Gala in Rome, finishing second behind Vítězslav Veselý.
At the British Grand Prix in Birmingham, Yego executed an extraordinary 91.39-meter throw in the final round, breaking the African record. Despite initially being ruled out due to sector violation, the measurement was corrected, establishing Yego's new personal best.
World Championships Triumph
Yego's greatest achievement came at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. He became the first Kenyan to win a world championship in javelin throw, with a remarkable 92.72-meter throw. While he fell short of the world record set by Jan Železný in 1996, Yego's performance remains the current African record.
