By Debra Rono
Former World Javelin Champion Julius Yego has successfully qualified for the men’s javelin finals at the Paris Olympics.
Yego secured his spot by finishing second in the qualifying round, achieving his season’s best throw of 85.97 meters on his final attempt to qualify for the finals slated for Thursday 8th August,2024.
In his initial attempt, Yego recorded a throw of 78.84 meters, followed by an improved 80.76 meters in his second attempt, ultimately culminating in his decisive third throw that ensured his advancement to the finals.
He finished behind Germany’s Julian Weber, who threw 87.76 meters, while Croatia’s Yakub Vadlejch placed third with a throw of 85.63 meters, all three qualifying for the finals.
After a disappointing performance at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, where he did not progress past the qualifying round and finished 24th with a throw of 77.34 meters, this year offers a renewed opportunity for Yego.
He previously claimed gold at the African Championship in Port Louis, Mauritius, in 2022 and achieved a 14th-place finish at the World Championship in Oregon, USA, with a throw of 79.60 meters.
Julius Yego, often referred to as the “YouTube Man,” gained this nickname after revealing that he utilized online resources to develop his throwing techniques due to the absence of a coach.
He made history by becoming the first Kenyan to win a title in a field event at the 2011 All-Africa Games.