Julius Yego Makes Massive Statement with First Diamond League Win in Nine Years

Kenya’s javelin great Julius Yego seems to be coming back to his brilliant best after returning on the winner’s podium in the Diamond League for the first time since the 2016 Eugene meeting.

Yego, the 2015 world champion and 2016 Olympics silver medalist, has been struggling on the global platform since those years but has remained resilient.

The main reason for his struggles has been an injury suffered at the Rio 2016 Olympics which has conspired to make it difficult for him to compete favourably.

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However, at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on Saturday, Yego made a statement as he won the javelin title after a throw of 83.60m in what was his third and final attempt.

The Kenyan beat Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago, who was second in with a throw of 82.64m, while Adrian Mardare of Moldova finished third with a season’s best 82.38m.

“I am happy with the win, not quite happy with the performance. Technically, I did not get it right today. In the javelin you need to be perfect and I was not,” said Yego, who was still not impressed despite his win.

“I need to go back to training now. I expect the competition in Tokyo to be tough. Nowadays you need to get over 90 metres to be assured of a medal. I want to inspire Kenyan kids who throw the javelin.

“We have the talent and I hope there will be other Kenyans throwing at a high level after I retire. I am already mentoring some athletes and I also have a foundation that I want to run personally after I stop competing.”

Yego will now be seeking forward to improved performances ahead of the World Championships where he will be looking to roll back the years by winning a medal.