Julius Yego pens heartfelt message after winning first Diamond League in 9 years
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 19.08.25. | 15:11
Yego also paid tribute to Kenyan athletics icons Eliud Kipchoge and Vivian Cheruiyot, who offered him guidance during some of his lowest points
Javelin great Julius Yego is back to winning ways after ending a nine-year wait for a Diamond League victory following a triumphant performance at Silesia, Poland, on Saturday, 16 August.
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The 2015 world champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist produced a season’s best throw of 83.60m on his third and final attempt to clinch the title, marking his first Diamond League win since the 2016 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
In the process, he edged out Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, who managed 82.64m, while Adrian Mardare of Moldova settled for third place with a season’s best 82.38m.
The victory also comes as his first international title since last year’s African Championships in Douala, Cameroon, where he threw 80.24m to claim gold.
The win in Silesia is yet another sign of resurgence for Yego, who has also triumphed this season at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland and the Motonet Grand Prix.
Yego’s career has been defined by resilience. He suffered a serious injury at the 2016 Rio Olympics and struggled for years to rediscover his best form, often spending more time on the treatment table than on the field.
Despite the setbacks, Mr Youtube Man remained determined to keep going.
Reflecting on his latest victory, Yego penned an emotional message, admitting that the moment was more than just about reclaiming silverware.
“It’s been a long time since I last won a Diamond League competition. The last one was back in 2016 in Oregon, nine years ago. This was truly special in my career as a javelin thrower.
Walking down the aisle to receive this trophy alongside many other winners of the day, I could not help but smile as young kids lined up to cheer us on and shake our hands.
In that moment, I felt something deep inside. I knew that children back home in Kenya were watching too, and I hope they felt motivated, inspired, and proud,” he shared.
He acknowledged that his career has been filled with highs and lows, but credited lessons of resilience for keeping him on course.
“Many years were spent in treatment rooms, with only a few glorious moments to hold on to. But those moments shaped me and taught me that life is about strength, resilience, and never giving up.
I am grateful I never walked away when things got tough. Instead, I grew tougher and more determined,” he continued.
Yego also paid tribute to Kenyan athletics icons Eliud Kipchoge and Vivian Cheruiyot, who offered him guidance during some of his lowest points.
“There were times I almost gave up, but I held on to the words of two legends and GOATs whose advice I sought, Eliud Kipchoge and Vivian Cheruiyot, who reminded me that ‘setbacks are stepping stones, don’t quit, keep going.’ For that, I say a BIG THANK YOU,” he wrote.
With the Tokyo World Championships looming next month, where Yego will make his seventh global appearance, his resurgence is timely. More importantly, he hopes his performances will inspire a new generation of Kenyan athletes to embrace javelin.
“I wanted more, but I chose to celebrate this distance, knowing that with a little more hard work, even greater results will come.
Thank you all for the cheers, claps, prayers, and good wishes. I will keep trying. And finally, thank you, Silesia. It was fun, unforgettable, and truly momentous,” he concluded.
