Kenyan javelin thrower Julius Yego has promised to return stronger after an injury cut short his appearance at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. The athlete, popularly known as the “YouTube Man” for teaching himself the sport online, suffered a complete tear of his adductor longus muscle and was forced to withdraw despite an impressive start.
Yego, who also captained Kenya’s team in Tokyo, opened his campaign with an 85.54-metre throw, signaling strong form. However, the injury struck soon after, ending his hopes of a full competition. Speaking after medical scans confirmed the tear, the 36-year-old admitted the diagnosis was disappointing but said he was grateful that surgery was not required.
“I have mixed feelings,” Yego said. “It is painful to end my season this way, but I am thankful that doctors have advised rest and therapy rather than an operation.”
The javelin star revealed that discomfort had started earlier, during the team’s pre-champ in Miramas, but he pushed through the pain with hopes of competing. After the Tokyo event, he consulted with doctors in Nairobi, who recommended rehabilitation and physiotherapy as the best course of action.
Despite the setback, Yego remains optimistic. He expressed appreciation for the support he has received from Kenyans, fellow athletes, and his Finnish coach Petteri Piironen, saying the encouragement has helped him stay positive. “The messages of hope give me strength. I know this is just a challenge, and I will overcome it,” he said.
Yego’s career has been shaped by resilience. In 2014, he recovered from a groin injury to win gold at the Commonwealth Games, while at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, he competed despite a painful biceps injury. This season, he showed signs of returning to his best, breaking a nine-year drought with a Diamond League victory in Silesia, followed by strong performances in Finland, Turku, and India at the Neeraj Chopra Classic.
Doctors have estimated that recovery could take at least a month, though Yego stressed he will not rush back. His biggest concern is not the injury itself, but the possibility of losing the form and fitness he had built over a promising season.
Reflecting on Tokyo, Yego said he had to overcome “fear of the unknown” to step into the stadium, adding that he felt motivated to compete as team captain and to show belief in his abilities.
As he begins the rehabilitation process, Yego has set his sights on returning to competition once fully fit. His determination, built on years of overcoming challenges, underscores his promise that this setback will not define the remainder of his career.
“This is just another hurdle,” he said. “I will come back stronger.”
Image by African Athletics United
