Julius Yego pens heartfelt message after taking health break

Former javelin world champion Julius Yego alias ‘YouTube Man’ is set to take a break from the sport due to health issues.

This comes after a dismissal performance in the Zurich Diamond League held on Thursday 5 September where he finished 10th after throwing 69.61m.

Anderson Peters of Grenada bagged gold with an amazing throw of 85.72 meters and 29 points. His exceptional performance placed him ahead of Julian Weber from Germany who threw 85.33 metres and Roderick Dean from Japan whose best effort measured 82.69 metres. India's Neeraj Chopra finished fourth with 14 points.

The other two players who cemented their places in the finals are Moldova’s Andrian Mardare (13 points) and Japan’s Roderick Genki Dean (12 points).

In a post after the event, Yego was grateful to all his fans and supporters throughout the season, promising to bounce back stronger after shaking off his injury. This break will allow him to reconnect with his family and loved ones and recharge before returning to competition.

“We end it there for now after some health issues. It has been fun. At the end of this season I enjoyed every bit of it and got to smile again after the last few years of dissatisfaction and disappointment.

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Thanks to everyone who cheered, clapped and supported me in this journey before Paris, during Paris, and after Paris.

Your support kept me going and aiming higher. I will be back stronger and better. Now it is time to go home and have time with my lovely family; to laugh, celebrate, and have fun again. See you again fam,” he posted.

The 2015 world champion has faced a challenging season, securing his spot at the Olympics through world rankings. His lone victory came at the African Championships, where he clinched a record fifth consecutive title.

However, much of the season has been a struggle, with injuries further complicating his performance. As he prepared for Zurich, he needed top results to secure a place among the top six qualifiers for the final, where a $30,000 (Ksh3.87 million) cash prize and the Diamond League Trophy were at stake.

His Season Best was recorded at the Paris Olympics, where he threw 87.72m to finish fifth overall, starting with an 85.97m throw, marking the first time he surpassed the 85m mark in 2024.

At the Lausanne Diamond League, he managed an 83m throw, finishing sixth—an improvement from his eighth-place finish at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he threw 78.37m.

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Yego sprained his ankle after his first throw attempt during the 2024 Kipkeino Classic at the Nyayo National Stadium, before opting out after two further throws that measured 72.25m and 71m respectively.

The ankle was heavily strapped even before he picked up the sprain, and limped off the pitch under assistance from Olympics Team Doctor James Ondiege.

The former Olympic silver medalist is, however, not letting the injury stop him from writing more history for Kenya.

“I will be back stronger and better,” he concluded.