Yego Eyes Return to World Championships Podium After Winning in Poland

Kenyan javelin legend Julius Yego continued his quest for a triumphant return to the global stage with a commanding win at the Silesia Diamond League meeting on Saturday, recording a throw of 83.60m.

Though the mark was his second-best of the season—trailing only his 84.51m effort in July—Yego remained candid about his performance, acknowledging technical flaws and reaffirming his ambition to reclaim his place among the world’s elite.

‘I’m happy with the win, not quite happy with the performance,’ Yego said after the event. ‘Technically, I did not get it right today. In javelin, you need to be perfect—and I was not.’

Yego, 36, made history in 2015 when he became the first Black African to win javelin gold at the World Championships in Beijing, launching a staggering 92.72m throw.

That feat not only cemented his place in athletics history but also made him the second African ever to win the title, following South Africa’s Marius Corbett in 1997.

Since Yego’s historic throw, only once has the men’s javelin world title been won with a mark exceeding 90 meters—a benchmark Yego believes is now essential for medal contention.

With the World Championships in Tokyo looming, he is focused on refining his technique and pushing toward another 90m performance.

‘I expect the competition in Tokyo to be tough,’ he said. ‘Nowadays, you need to get over 90m to be assured of a medal.’