Yego Aims for Glory: Finland's Heroics Fuel His Hunger for Victory in Paris
The 2016 Olympic javelin silver medallist Julius Yego is fired up ahead of Friday’s Paris Diamond League, hoping to extend his winning form after back-to-back victories on Finnish soil.
Yego kicked off his comeback at the Motonet GP in Finland on June 11, unleashing a season-high throw of 82.95 meters to secure victory.
He led 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott, who managed 79.98m for second place and Finland’s Taneli Juutinen, who came third with a 78.24m throw. The 2015 world champion then followed it up with a show-stopping performance at the Turku Continental Tour meet on Tuesday night.
He improved his season best mark to 83.08m in a dramatic finale to edge out Poland’s Cyprian Mrzyglod (82.90m) and home favourite Toni Keranen (81.96m). Yego’s return to form comes after a rocky start to his 2025 season.
He started off with a ninth-place performance at the Doha Diamond League in May, achieving a distance of 78.52 meters. During this event, Germany's Julian Weber showcased an impressive throw of 91.06 meters, securing first place and setting a new world lead. India's Neeraj Chopra joined the elite group of athletes who have thrown beyond 90 meters by recording 90.23 meters. Additionally, Olympic bronze medalist Anderson Peters from Grenada claimed the third position with his throw measuring 85.64 meters.
At the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, 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 Rohler (80.79m) and Portugal’s Leandro Ramos (80.68m) completing the podium.
Currently, Yego feels confident about taking on his upcoming mission since finding his groove in Finland. He stated, “The two-week training session along with my participation in two competitions proceeded according to plan, resulting in two victories and personal best performances.”
With the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo looming in September, Yego is laser-focused on recapturing the magic of 2015, when he hurled a lifetime best of 92.72m to win global gold in Beijing. "I am heated up for the ultimate competition in Tokyo, but for now my focus is on the next competition before the World Championships," he added.
Yego had already achieved the 85.50m Tokyo qualification mark with his 87.72m toss during the Paris Olympics. He emphasized his particular fondness for Finland, stating, “Ever since I first arrived in Finland in 2011, which was about ten years plus a few more years ago, it feels like a second home to me,” he continued. “Initially, I came here just to train, but everything after that became part of an incredible journey. This nation holds a very special place in my heart; whenever I step onto the runway, it reignites my passion.”
He believes that winning two consecutive times will be crucial for his upcoming contests. He stated, "It’s now time to pack up the travel bag and strategize for the subsequent championship."
Yego is one of the featured athletes at the Paris Diamond League on Friday, where he will compete against India's Chopra, Peters, Walcott, and Da Silva.
In the men's 800m event at the Turku continental competition, Brian Komen, who was crowned the 2024 African 1,500m champion, secured the bronze medal with a time of 3:34.06. The silver went to Ethiopia’s Ermias Girma, finishing in 3:33.49, followed closely by Norway's Narve Nordas, who finished in 3:33.83.
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