Unbowed Yego promises to bounce back after Tokyo disappointment

Kenyan javelin star Julius Yego is upbeat he will bounce back after the groin injury that cut short his Tokyo 2025 World Championships campaign.

The 2015 world champion confirmed scans revealed a complete adductor longus tear but ruled out surgery.

“Compete adductor longus tear after the scans and MRI today was the finding. The doctors have advised total rest,” Yego said adding, “I can now take time to rest, rehab, and consistent therapy. I had mixed feelings, fearing I might need surgery, but I thank God that won’t happen.”

Yego, who managed an 85.54m throw in his opening attempt before limping off, admitted he had felt discomfort even before arriving in Tokyo.

“While at Miramas pre-camp, I didn’t have a physio. The area felt heavy, and that’s why I travelled back to Kenya. When I met my physio, he told me I was lucky not to rupture,” he revealed to Citizen Digital.

The Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist said he opened with a huge first-round throw because of uncertainty about his groin.

“I was taking big throws in round one because I had the fear of the unknown,” Yego said. “I really thank Kenyans for their support and belief in me as Team Kenya captain. I felt support everywhere—even beyond athletics.”

Among those rallying behind him was Finnish coach Petteri Piironen, who has worked with Yego for years and is renowned for mentoring African javelin throwers.

The javelin great is no stranger to adversity. He overcame a groin injury at the 2014 Commonwealth Games to win gold with 83.87m and famously competed on a damaged ankle in Rio, where he threw 88.24m for silver. In 2021, during the delayed Tokyo Olympics, a biceps injury hampered his form.

“I have a strong mindset. It gives me hope that I can bounce back from anything,” said Yego, who also serves as a police inspector with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

His 2025 season had shown promise: he ended a nine-year Diamond League drought with an 83.60m victory in Silesia after strong performances in Finland, Turku, and the Neeraj Chopra Classic in India.

“We’ve planned good rehabilitation, and it will take about a month. I will not relent—the worst scenario is losing the fitness I had heading to Tokyo,” he affirmed.

Despite Yego’s setback, Tokyo proved challenging even for other stars. Defending champion Neeraj Chopra exited early after an 84.03m throw.

“I was really going for something big in Tokyo,” Yego said. “Even Jan Železný, the world record holder and Chopra’s coach, told me I was going to win it. He told me to believe.”

At 36, Yego’s resolve remains resilient and undeterred, he is already focused on the comeback.