Julius Yego

Julius Yego
Yego in 2015
Personal information
NicknameMr. YouTube
Born (1989-01-04) January 4, 1989 (age 35)
Cheptonon, Rift Valley Province, Kenya (today Nandi County)
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lb)
Sport
Country Kenya
SportTrack and field
EventJavelin throw
Coached byPetteri Piironen[1]
Achievements and titles
Personal bestsAR, CR 92.72 m (2015)

Julius Yego (born 4 January 1989) is a Kenyan track and field athlete who competes in the javelin throw. Nicknamed "Mr. YouTube" because he learned how to throw by watching YouTube videos of javelin athletes, Yego is the African record holder for the event with a personal best of 92.72 m.

He won the javelin title at the All-Africa Games in 2011 and at the African Championships in Athletics in 2012 and 2014; at the 2013 World Championships he placed fourth, losing a medal in the final round. In 2014, he became the first Kenyan to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in a field event. At the 2015 World Championships he won the gold medal with a throw of 92.72m, becoming the first Kenyan to win a World Championships gold medal in a field event. He won silver at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

  1. ^ Landells, Steve (18 September 2014). "Finnish advice is the secret to African javelin throwers' success". International Association of Athletics Federations. Archived from the original on 28 August 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2014.