Julius Yego's Biography, Age, Spouse, Tribe, Real Name, Networth and Lifestyle Wikidata | Claim this profile

Julius Yego's Biography in Summary

Julius Yego, born on January 4, 1989, is a Kenyan track and field athlete renowned for his prowess in the javelin throw. Earning the moniker "Mr. YouTube," Yego acquired his throwing skills by diligently studying YouTube videos of fellow javelin athletes. He currently holds both the African and Commonwealth records for the javelin event, boasting a personal best throw of 92.72 meters.

His accomplishments include securing the javelin title at the All-Africa Games in 2011 and triumphing at the African Championships in Athletics in 2012 and 2014. Yego narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2013 World Championships, finishing fourth in the final round. In 2014, he achieved a historic feat by becoming the first Kenyan to clinch a Commonwealth Games gold medal in a field event. The pinnacle of his achievements was marked by his victory at the 2015 World Championships, where he claimed the gold medal with an astonishing throw of 92.72 meters, solidifying his status as the first Kenyan to secure a World Championships gold in a field event. His excellence continued at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he earned a silver medal.

Yego hails from Cheptonon (Soba River) location in Tinderet, Nandi District, and pursued his education at Kapsabet Boys High School. His fascination with javelin throw began during his youth, and he turned to YouTube videos, particularly those of Jan Železný and Andreas Thorkildsen, to refine his technique and learn effective training methods. Notably, Yego's journey to the top of Kenyan javelin throwing came in a nation known more for its dominance in distance running. He emerged as a dominant force, capturing his first national title at the tender age of nineteen in 2008 and subsequently defending it in 2009 and 2010.

In 2010, Yego earned a place in the national team, securing a bronze medal with a personal best throw of 74.51 meters at the 2010 African Championships held in Nairobi. He continued to progress, and his determination led him to excel. Despite the relative obscurity of javelin throwing in Kenya, Yego clinched the title at the 2011 All-Africa Games, setting a new Kenyan national record of 78.34 meters. This remarkable feat earned him a scholarship from the IAAF to train with elite coaches in Europe, in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.

His training and dedication led to impressive improvements in his performance, as reflected by his record-breaking throws. Yego's commitment propelled him to become the first Kenyan javelin thrower to compete in the Olympics, where he placed 12th in the final round. His journey continued with a strong showing at the 2013 World Championships, where he set a new Kenyan record of 85.40 meters.

Julius Yego Personal life

Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Yego married Sincy Chemutai and is a father to two sons, Jarvis and Finn. His achievements include victories at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2014 African Championships, solidifying his status as a dominant force in the javelin throw. His ascension reached new heights in 2015 with a series of exceptional performances, culminating in his gold medal win at the 2015 World Championships with a record-breaking throw of 92.72 meters. Despite facing an ankle injury at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Yego demonstrated his skill once again by securing a silver medal.

Julius Yego's journey from learning through YouTube videos to becoming a global javelin throw sensation serves as an inspiration to athletes and enthusiasts alike.

International competition record 

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing  Kenya
2010	African Championships	Nairobi, Kenya	3rd	74.51 m
	Commonwealth Games	New Delhi, India	7th	69.60 m
2011	All-Africa Games	Maputo, Mozambique	1st	78.34 m (NR)
2012	African Championships	Porto Novo, Benin	1st	76.68 m
	Olympic Games	London, United Kingdom	12th	77.15 m
2013	World Championships	Moscow, Russia	4th	85.40 m (NR)
2014	Commonwealth Games	Glasgow, United Kingdom	1st	83.87 m
	African Championships	Marrakech, Morocco	1st	84.72 m
2015	World Championships	Beijing, China	1st	92.72 m (AR)
2016	Olympic Games	Rio De Janeiro, Brazil	2nd	88.24 m
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	13th	76.29 m
2018	Commonwealth Games	Gold Coast, Australia	13th (q)	74.55 m
	African Championships	Asaba, Nigeria	1st	77.34 m
2019	African Games	Rabat, Morocco	1st	87.73 m
	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	8th (q)	83.86 m1
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	24th (q)	77.34 m
2022	African Championships	Port Louis, Mauritius	1st	79.62 m
	World Championships	Eugene, United States	13th (q)	79.60 m

1No mark in the final

Seasonal bests by year 

• 2009 – 74.00
• 2010 – 75.44
• 2011 – 78.34
• 2012 – 81.81
• 2013 – 85.40
• 2014 – 84.72
• 2015 – 92.72
• 2016 – 88.24
• 2017 – 87.97
• 2018 – 80.91
• 2019 – 87.73
• 2021 - 77.34
• 2022 - 85.70