Yego throws a season best to place fifth in Olympics javelin final

Yego throws a season best to place fifth in Olympics javelin final

Kenya's Julius Yego in action at the men's javelin throw qualification at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 6, 2024. Photo/ Courtesy

Former world champion Julius Yego threw a season best of 87.72metres to finish fifth in the men’s javelin throw final that was won by Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan with a new Olympic record throw of 92.97metres at the Stade de France on Thursday night.

The 2016 silver medalist, started slowly with a throw of 80.29metres before notching seven metres high in the second throw with 87.72m to join the medal contention.

He then failed to match the second throw finishing with 84.90m to place fifth behind champion Nadeem, former champion Neeraj Chopra of India, Grenada’s Anderson Peters and Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic respectively.

Yego termed the performance as the best for him adding that the competition has gone up compared to the last two editions he has participated.

“I said before the final that for anyone to be in the medal bracket you need to throw over 90. It was very tough and I can say it is the best ever for me. Imagine throwing 88m but you still can’t get a medal. That really shows how things have changed. Training is different now and we will have to change things if we’re to catch up.”

Newly crowned champion Nadeem threw an Olympic record of 92.97 metres for victory, India's defending champion Chopra taking silver with 89.45. Grenada's Anderson Peters claimed bronze with 88.54m.

Nadeem, the 2022 Commonwealth champion, placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics and was a silver medallist at last year's Budapest world championships.

Before Arshad's remarkable victory, Pakistan had never won an individual gold medal at the Olympics.

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