Julius Yego throws his Javelin at the Beijing World Championships on August 26, 2015. PHOTO/IAAF/Getty Images
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 29 – Despite struggling to find his form back, javelin star Julius Yego is unfazed as he aims to add an Olympic medal to his world title in the Rio games that get underway August 5.
The Commonwealth Games champion has not been convincing this season, finishing second behind Egyptian Abdelrahman Ihab in the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene where he set his season’s best of 84.68m and coming seventh in Oslo where he threw 80.90m.
“I can’t say I am in bad shape because of the two events I have gone. All the preparations have been well and I am feeling confident because we have worked hard with my coach in training. We have worked on technique and I feel ready for Rio,” the African record holder with 92.72m told Capital Sport.
“My body is responding well in training and I am confident that everything will work out well by the help of God,” Yego added.
The 27-year-old has put the disappointment behind him and is focusing on writing another history, this time at a bigger stage when the men’s javelin competition begin August 17.
In his first Olympics attempt at the 2012 London Games, Yego made it to the finals but finished bottom of the pile after throwing 77.15m.
“Last time I was a finalist and this year I look forward to doing better. I should be ready because it’s time to go for it. I have to focus and ensure there is no room for errors. I know there is intense competition with the likes of Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott but I am equally up to the task,” a confident Yego said.
One of his biggest competitors, Egypt’s Abdelrahman Ihab will not be at the Olympics despite qualifying after testing positive for banned substances.
Ihab, who won silver at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, was asked to travel to Barcelona where his B samples were analyzed to confirm the results.
However, Yego has world leader Thomas Rohler to contain after the German threw a monster 91.28 in London Diamond League.
