Former world javelin champion Julius Yego is looking forward to an exciting outing at the Paris Olympic Games on Thursday after qualifying for the final with a season best of 85.97m on Tuesday.
Mr YouTube was in a great form finishing second in Group ‘A’ of the qualifiers, behind German Webber Julian, who threw 87.76m at the Stade de France.
Based on the challenges he has encountered this year, Yego who has hinted to retire after the Paris Olympics, said he is already proud of his final qualification.
“Let’s hope I will have a good throw on Thursday. I had a very good feeling in the warm-up, and I knew that I would have a good throw. I feel the body is now ready to throw the javelin again. I just need to take it easy and get the technique right,” said Yego.
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“You all know what I have gone through since the beginning of the year, I really needed to prove that I can still do it, and today has made me think I still have more years to throw. I didn’t struggle with the throw, the feeling is back. I’m really excited to have a season best after a very long time.”
But Yego appears to be really worried about the future of the sport as he nears his retirement.
“I love the sport, and I wish we had many young Kenyans coming up to take the sport. I am almost exiting the event but we do not have many young throwers coming up. Those that are there are not good enough to compete in Olympics and World Championships,” said Yego.
“We also need to see someone or even corporates to come on board and sponsor the sport and do it for Kenya. I have opened the way, and there is nothing else I can do like what Ferdinand (Omanyala) has done in sprints. It means we have the talent, but we don’t have that support.”
– By James Waindi in Paris
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