Neeraj Chopra-Like Javelin Throw Classic In Kenya: Julius Yego Says 'Why Not?'

"I would love to host something like the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Kenya," Julius Yego says, eyes lighting up. "Invite my friends, like Neeraj, bring the best in the world to my country. Why not?"

Why not, indeed?

Yego isn’t just any javelin thrower. He’s the man who shattered stereotypes and hurled African athletics into uncharted territory when he became the continent’s first world champion in men’s javelin in 2015.

To Kenya, Yego is what Neeraj Chopra is to India, a path-breaker, a symbol of what once seemed improbable, the man who carved out a podium in a country that rarely looked beyond a few chosen sports.

Yego was awestruck by the Bengaluru crowd at the Sree Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium, close to 15,000 people, all roaring for one sport. It felt unfamiliar, almost surreal.

But it also reminded him of home, the same kind of passion, though usually reserved in Kenya for long-distance running icons like Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri and Faith Kipyegon.

For a javelin thrower from a nation obsessed with endurance, this kind of energy felt like a revelation.

The 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist spoke to Outlook about his journey, the rise, the love, the loneliest falls, and what it means to be cheered like that in India.

Julius Yego’s Javelin Journey In A Land Known For Long-Distance Legends

When asked about his journey, Yego smiled and said, "It was always about the talent God gave me, and that was javelin. Sure, I could run, of course. But how fast? My body didn’t want long-distance. Maybe I could’ve been a sprinter, but that never really caught my eye."

The spark, as he remembers it, came in high school, during a school games meet. "We had this system where you had to try all three athletics events," he recalled. "That’s when I picked up the javelin for the first time. I was throwing sticks, and I was like, whoa, I can actually do this!"

From that moment, the word was out. This was Yego, the kid who could really throw. But it wasn’t until 2004, watching the Athens Olympics, that something truly shifted.

"I saw Andreas Thorkildsen win. Then I saw Jan Zelezny, and everything changed. I just knew, this is what I want to do," he said.

But wanting to chase greatness and having the tools to do it are two different things, and in Kenya, javelin throw wasn’t exactly a sport with a roadmap. With limited access to proper coaching in the beginning, Yego turned to YouTube, studying the greats frame by frame, teaching himself how to throw. 

That’s how he came to be known as "Mr. YouTube", the self-taught sensation who turned online videos into a world-class education.

Currently, he holds the African record in men’s javelin with a personal best of 92.72 metres, a reminder that it’s not the spotlight that makes the athlete, but the athlete who draws the spotlight to the sport.

Javelin Roar In Bengaluru And Friendship With Neeraj Chopra

Yego is happy with the direction javelin throw is taking: more attention, more energy and a growing fan base. What he saw at the Neeraj Chopra Classic lit something up inside him. The packed stands, the chants, the pure love for a field event, it felt big. And now, he wants to bring that same energy to his home soil.

"Yeah, I enjoyed the event, the crowd, the cheering, the support," he said with a grin. "I’d love to have something like that in Kenya, just for javelin. Invite the best throwers in the world, invite Neeraj, and show them what we’ve got."

He’s already taken the first step. Yego has invited Neeraj to compete at the Kip Keino Classic, Kenya’s premier track and field event.

"I’ve told him, you should come to Kenya, I’ve already invited him," Yego said. "We’re friends, we support each other, and I believe we share the same goal: to take this sport to the next level."

The Kenyan hit his season’s best in Bengaluru with a throw of 84.51m, finishing second, and he did it in challenging conditions, battling a strong headwind that most throwers tend to avoid. But Yego knew exactly how to handle it. With years of experience behind him, he had the technique to ride the wind rather than fight it.

For him, the result was more than just numbers on the board. It was a sign that the long, winding road back was finally starting to straighten.

Roughest Patch Of Javelin Runway

His journey has never been a smooth arc. It's been full of highs and lows, moments of glory and stretches of pain. When asked about his lowest point, Yego didn’t hesitate.

"It has to be the injury period. It was hard. I got injured in 2017, my groin, and since then, I struggled to come back stronger. It became a problem to train and compete," he said.

"The groin is such a small muscle, but it’s really difficult to heal. It gets better when you rest, but once you return to hard training, it comes back. You do everything you can to be the best, but it impacts your whole process. I’m happy now that I can compete again, and have six throws like that. Things are better. I’m making a comeback," he added.

At 36, Yego’s journey could be entering its twilight. Los Angeles 2028 might well be the final chapter, a fifth Olympic appearance that would place him among a rare few in javelin history.

From throwing sticks on his father’s farm to breaking barriers on the world stage, his story has never followed a straight path, much like his javelin.

After years of consistency, injuries and comebacks, it’s no longer just about distance, it’s about legacy. One fast run-up, one perfect throw, and maybe, another big moment that captures everything he’s stood for in Kenyan javelin history.

Or maybe, another 90 metres. You never know.