RABAT, September 2, 2019 - The African record holder in javelin (92.72m) Julius Yego is hoping to win his second IAAF World Championships gold medal in Doha after winning his second African Games gold in Morocco with a throw of 87.73m.

His first African Games gold medal was attained in 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique and he raised his profile on the international scene at the time. “I am happy to have won the gold medal for the second time, we are going for the World Championships and it is great to have thrown 87m,” he said.

The Kenyan javelin champion said his African Games exploits will work as a motivator for him at the World Championships billed for Doha, Qatar this month.

“The World Championships are big and I want to win for the second time just like I did with the African Games,” Yego said. “And yes I would like to break the world record just like any other athlete, but my focus is just on winning a medal, if the record comes I will be happier. For now I am going home to prepare for the championships as they are coming in less than a month.” Yego claimed the 2015 World Championships with a throw of 92.72m.

Unlike other athletes, Yego used online platform (YouTube) to perfect his throwing skills, which earned him the nickname ‘YouTube man’.

Asked why he opted to do javelin when his country (Kenya) is known for middle and long distance running, Yego had this to say: “Everyone is different and for me javelin is a God given talent, I can run but I can’t complete two laps like my fellow country men and women.  I’m so confident, happy and relaxed with javelin, I love it; javelin is in my blood.” His throw of  87.73m not only won him a gold medal but also qualified him for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at which he would also like to win a medal.