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The world javelin champion is on the hunt for a new coach which could mean a longer time getting used to new tactics, handing his rivals, such as Julius Yego and Arshad Nadeem, an advantage.
World javelin champion Neeraj Chopra is set to begin a new chapter in his saucerful career following the retirement of his coach Klaus Bartonietz.
Chopra has worked with 75-year-old Bartonietz since 2019, shaping him into a global phenomenon that has won Olympics and World Championship gold, but he is now set to work under a new tactician following the German’s retirement.
"I write this without knowing where to begin. Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me. Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person. You have gone out of your way to make sure I was mentally and physically prepared for every competition. You stood by me through injury. You were there through the highs, and you were there even more through the lows," Chopra wrote in his farewell message.
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07:00 - 12.10.2024
Julius Yego lauds Olympics champion Arshad Nadeem whose story of struggle is similar to his
Former world javelin champion Julius Yego has praised Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem for overcoming many challenges before winning a historic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"You were one of the quietest in the stands, but your words to me rang the loudest in my ears when I threw. I will miss the pranks and the laughs we shared, but more than anything, I will miss US as a team. Thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of yours. Happy retirement, coach," he added.
Bartonietz started working with Chopra, taking over from Uwe Hohn, when the athlete was recovering from an elbow injury and brought technical expertise and a calming presence that helped the javelin star become one of the most revered athletes in the world.
He used his knowledge as a biomechanical expert to help Chopra through the physical and mental anguish of recovering from an injury before shaping him into an athlete that went on to win Olympics gold in 2020 and sliver this year as well as silver medal at the 2022 World Championships and gold in 2023.
Following Bartonietz’s departure, Chopra and the Athletics Federation of India have started the shortlisting process for a new coach whom they hope to find by the end of the year.
That could open doors for Chopra’s rivals as working under new tactician could mean new ways of doing things that might take time to get accustomed to, handing his opponents, such as Kenyan Julius Yego, Pakistani Arshad Nadeem, the Olympics champion who denied him gold in Paris, and Grenada’s Anderson Peters, the Olympics bronze medalist, who beat him to the Diamond League title this year, an advantage.
Chopra will therefore hope to get up to speed under his new coach ahead of his title defence at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
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11:43 - 25.08.2024
Wise words from Julius Yego that saved the day for injury-stricken Neeraj Chopra in Lausanne
Neeraj Chopra has recounted what Julius Yego told him to propel him to a second-place finish at the Diamond League Meeting Lausanne amid injury woes.
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