Africa javelin champ Yego seeks to clinch gold in final Olympics
Nairobi, Tuesday
Africa javelin champion Julius Yego hopes to use the Diamond League campaign to improve his throws ahead of the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next year.
Yego, 31, won silver with one throw at the last Olympics in Rio in 2016, before a groin and ankle injury slowed his progress.
However, after three years of rehabilitation, false starts and bruised egos, Yego is ready stake his claim to the javelin gold at the delayed Tokyo Games next year.
Yego is eyeing the Diamond League to showcase his blossoming talent and reclaim his status on the world stage.
“I started my training early enough knowing that for the first time, I had no niggling injuries.
I can say, I was doing very well in training and looked forward to the start of the season,” Yego said in Nairobi on Monday.
His target will be to improve his personal best time. At the continental level in Rabat, Morocco last year, Yego threw a season’s best 87.73 metres to clinch the Africa title, just five metres off his personal best, which he set in Beijing in 2015 when he hurled the javelin 92.72m to win the world title.
“I feel this was to be my year. I had it all planned, but I have to go back and plan hoping to emerge stronger when the lockdown is lifted.
It is important to remain fit and active so as to take little time to return to competition,” he added.
World Athletics has confirmed that the Diamond League will start in August.
“In Rio, I got silver because of injury. I was sure to win gold in 2020, but here we are, the Games are postponed.
I still hope that I will achieve my dream of getting an Olympic gold next year because I believe it will be my last appearance at the Games,” said Yego. -Xinhua
