Kenya's Julius Yego is set to compete in his fifth and final Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, aiming to add another medal to his impressive collection before retiring from the event.
Yego's journey at the Commonwealth Games began in 2010 in New Delhi, where he finished seventh. It was at the 2014 Glasgow Games that he made history as the first Kenyan to win gold in the men's javelin throw, a breakthrough that propelled him onto the global athletics stage.
Following his Commonwealth success, Yego became the first Kenyan to claim a World Championship title in a field event after winning gold at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. He has since competed at the 2018 Gold Coast and 2022 Birmingham Games, winning silver in the latter.
Speaking ahead of the Glasgow Games, Yego confirmed this will be his last Commonwealth appearance as an athlete. "I'm competing for honours and after this, I will focus on the future beyond sports," he said.
He acknowledged the competition will be fierce, with Olympic, world, and continental champions among the contenders. Despite the challenge, Yego feels prepared after settling into training in Glasgow.
Reflecting on his career, Yego expressed pride in his rise from a self-taught javelin thrower, famously nicknamed "Mr. YouTube" for learning techniques via online videos. He credited the Commonwealth Games for providing the platform that launched his international success.
Yego also expressed optimism about Team Kenya's prospects at the Games, stating, "I think we are on a good starting path and hopefully we will get more medals."
As he steps onto the runway for one last Commonwealth campaign, Yego seeks to close this chapter on a high note, cementing his legacy as one of Kenya's greatest field athletes.
