Massive Silver for Yego, sweet Bronze for Nyairera

World Javelin champion Julius Yego had a very eventful day at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday night.

First, the Kenyan took his first throw at the final in eighth place and took the lead with a throw of 88.24m, which was his Season Best.

He then had a false throw in the second attempt, did not take the third attempt and on his fourth attempt he had another false throw and within minutes he was on a wheelchair been pushed out of the stadium.

Before long the Kenyan record holder was back again inside the Olympic Stadium and this time walking and even able to do a lap of honour to celebrate a silver medal position as Germany’s world number one Thomas Rohler had taken advantage of Yego’s absence to throw 90.30m in Attempt Five, which was enough for gold.

“I am not disappointed as I am a silver medallist at the Olympics and it is something that I have been working on.

“To be on the podium at the Olympics is a big thing and I thank God who enabled me to be a silver medalist despite the fact I was not able to finish the competition,” the man from Cheptonon village in Nandi County told journalists at the mixed zone after the medal ceremony.

“After the three throws I think I pulled my groin, but I am excited to be on the podium,” he said.

Yego, who shocked the world by winning a world title at the World Championships in Beijing, China last year, said he would have improved on his throw were it not for the injury. “I felt very good during the warm-up and I thought maybe I could throw further than 88m, but you know what God has planned no one can go against,” Yego said.

This was Kenya’s first medal at the Olympics in javelin and after Yego’s exploits at the World Championships, the world is surely watching.

He said he was excited to be an Olympic silver medallist as his season has not been about long throws that people expected, but he will be happy with what he did in Brazil.

“I was really focusing on the Olympics and I am really excited. Being a silver medallist at the Olympics is not an easy thing.

“I think people at home are now celebrating. It is like a gold medal because to get a Kenyan in the Olympics who is on the podium is not an easy thing, but I think in future Kenyans will be among the best throwers in the world,” Yego said.

He said when he made his second throw he felt something on his knee and his groin was also not ok and it is something that will be looked at before deciding if he will be going to the Diamond League meetings or not.