"YOU TUBE MAN" LANDS MAJOR SILVERWARE

Story written by Patrick Kamanga

“YOU TUBE” MAN FINALLY LANDS MAJOR SILVERWARE

Yego at the podium medal ceremony

Kenya’s Julius Yego won the country’s first ever gold medal in the Javelin throw at any major international event outside the African continent when he triumphed in the final day of the Athletics program at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Commonwealth games Champion getting down to business

Yego beat second placed Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago when he posted an 83.47m throw to Walcott’s 82.67m. The self taught Javelin thrower who learnt his craft watching You Tube videos, completed a remarkable comeback after slipping and sustaining a groin injury on the wet surface while warming up earlier. Yego who finished 7^th at the last Commonwealth edition in New Delhi India in 2010 has steadily improved his performances culminating in a near miss when he finished fourth outside the medals bracket at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow Russia last year. He has also been a regular competitor at the IAAF Diamond League meetings at the current season.

 

His win is humongous considering that Kenya is traditionally known for its prowess in the middle distance, long distance, cross-country and marathon race events which have seen the country grow in the last several decades into a global power at these disciplines.

Yego’s phenomenal rise completes a story of personal sacrifice, tenacity, discipline and sheer determination.

What does this win portend for Kenya’s future in the Javelin throw and other field events? Is it a window to a glorious future in the field events?

Yego’s trail blazing achievement uncannily mirrors that of Douglas Wakiihuri, who pioneered Kenya’s participation in the marathon races when he stormed the World Athletics Championships in Rome Italy in 1987 to win the nation’s first ever gold at this event. 

Douglas Wakiihuri on his way to marathon glory, Rome 1987

Considering Kenya’s current lofty status it’s hard to believe now that prior to Wakiihuri’s win the country had never participated at any major marathon which was at time considered a preserve of the Western countries. 
He was to follow that win in Rome with a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Seoul South Korea in 1988, a win at the London Marathon in 1989, Commonwealth gold in Auckland in 1990 and capped his career with a win in the 1990 New York Marathon to set the nation firmly on its course of world dominance.