Kenyan javelin star Julius Yego has vowed to return stronger after a groin injury forced him out of the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.
The 2015 world champion revealed that medical scans confirmed a complete tear of the adductor longus muscle, but doctors have ruled out the need for surgery. Instead, he has been advised to take time off for rest, rehabilitation, and therapy.
“The scans showed a complete adductor longus tear. The doctors have asked me to rest completely, and that is what I will now focus on. I had feared surgery might be necessary, but thankfully that will not be the case,” Yego said.
Yego had managed an impressive 85.54m throw in his opening attempt before limping off the field. He admitted he had been nursing discomfort even before arriving in Tokyo.
“During the Miramas pre-camp, I didn’t have access to a physio, and the area was already feeling heavy. When I got back to Kenya, my physio told me I was lucky not to suffer a rupture,” he revealed in an interview with Citizen Digital.
The Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist explained that his decision to open with a massive first throw was driven by uncertainty about his condition.
“I went all in during the first round because I didn’t know how my groin would hold up. It was a throw under fear of the unknown,” he said.
Despite the setback, Yego expressed gratitude to Kenyans for rallying behind him in his role as Team Kenya captain.
“I truly thank Kenyans for the support and belief they’ve shown me. I have felt it everywhere not just in athletics but beyond,” he added.
Yego now looks ahead to recovery, hopeful that his comeback will be as powerful as the throws that once made him a world champion.
