Should we thank youtube for the rise of javelin stars in countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Kenya, India, and Grenada?

Pro News/Info/Results Field Events

2 years ago 05/25/2022 10:00pm EDT

That's what Jon Mulkeen says in a profile of Anderson Peters.

For a long time, the javelin was dominated by European throwers – specifically Finns, Germans and Brits.
In more recent years, though, the event has opened up to other nations. In 2012, Trinidad & Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott won the Olympic title. Three years later, Kenya’s Julius Yego earned world gold in Beijing. Peters was the winner of the world title in 2019, and last year India’s Neeraj Chopra struck gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
It is now arguably one of the most universal throwing disciplines. And it could all be thanks to YouTube.
Yego, Peters, Walcott and Chopra all became keen students of their sport by watching videos of javelin greats. They may not have had access to leading European coaches during their formative years, but they had an internet connection, a willingness to learn, and a desire to become a great thrower.

worldathletics.org

One big throw for Peters, one small step towards Oregon | FEATURE | World Athletics

Link:www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/an...

2 years ago 05/25/2022 10:32pm EDT

re: rojo

Interesting... probably.

Is the lack of Javelin in most U.S. high schools why the U.S. doesn't have much success. It's also so different from the other throwing events. You are probably better off trying to convert a quarterback or a baseball player than a shotputter or discus thrower

2 years ago 05/26/2022 4:11am EDT

re: AXC

AXC wrote:
Interesting... probably.
Is the lack of Javelin in most U.S. high schools why the U.S. doesn't have much success. It's also so different from the other throwing events. You are probably better off trying to convert a quarterback or a baseball player than a shotputter or discus thrower

The boys record holder at my school was the star QB who was looking for something to do his senior year since he didn't have to worry about spring football. So he did sprints and learned to throw the jav. He ended up throwing 51m at the state meet finishing 3rd and he now competes in the decathlon at a prominent D1 school.

2 years ago 05/26/2022 5:37am EDT

re: rojo

Ridiculous article written by someone who has no knowledge of the sport. Dominated by "specifically Finns, Germans, and Brits"?lol. Sure Finns, but dominated also by Norwegians, Soviets, and Czechs, yes. Hungary & the US are far better than "Brits". And not so much Germans either. Its only recently that Germany had three of the best throwers. Was that also due to them watching youtube?

2 years ago 05/26/2022 6:05am EDT

re: rojo

rojo wrote:
That's what Jon Mulkeen says in a profile of Anderson Peters.
For a long time, the javelin was dominated by European throwers – specifically Finns, Germans and Brits.
In more recent years, though, the event has opened up to other nations. In 2012, Trinidad & Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott won the Olympic title. Three years later, Kenya’s Julius Yego earned world gold in Beijing. Peters was the winner of the world title in 2019, and last year India’s Neeraj Chopra struck gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
It is now arguably one of the most universal throwing disciplines. And it could all be thanks to YouTube.
Yego, Peters, Walcott and Chopra all became keen students of their sport by watching videos of javelin greats. They may not have had access to leading European coaches during their formative years, but they had an internet connection, a willingness to learn, and a desire to become a great thrower.
t
Link:www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/an...

Interesting.

There is some frequent poster here, never bothered to get his name, whose sole point is that our [East Africans] success in distance running is due to doping. One wonders how he will respond to this thread.

The name is Coevett, I think; dour, bitter, sad fellow.

2 years ago 05/26/2022 9:21am EDT

re: lol out

lol out wrote:
Ridiculous article written by someone who has no knowledge of the sport. Dominated by "specifically Finns, Germans, and Brits"?lol. Sure Finns, but dominated also by Norwegians, Soviets, and Czechs, yes. Hungary & the US are far better than "Brits". And not so much Germans either. Its only recently that Germany had three of the best throwers. Was that also due to them watching youtube?

You really locked into that one sentence to satisfy you need for outrage? Peters said himself he watches YouTube to study javelin techniques.

2 years ago 05/26/2022 1:12pm EDT

re: Putting shot

Putting shot wrote:
AXC wrote:
Interesting... probably.
Is the lack of Javelin in most U.S. high schools why the U.S. doesn't have much success. It's also so different from the other throwing events. You are probably better off trying to convert a quarterback or a baseball player than a shotputter or discus thrower
The boys record holder at my school was the star QB who was looking for something to do his senior year since he didn't have to worry about spring football. So he did sprints and learned to throw the jav. He ended up throwing 51m at the state meet finishing 3rd and he now competes in the decathlon at a prominent D1 school.

Sounds like what happened this year at Jesuit New Orleans. QB Jack Larriviere was planning to walk on at Tulane. Decides to throw javelin despite having no experience whatsoever. Ends up throwing 228-10 to win the state meet, put up the best HS mark in the country, and get a T&F scholarship to LSU.

There must be a lot more untapped potential out there.

2 years ago 05/26/2022 6:51pm EDT

re: rojo

Well it is certainly true for Julius Yego. He said when he had no coaches and no support from Kenya and no place to train, he would go to internet cafes, look up videos on training from the top Jav throwers in the world, and then go do it at practice.

YouTube.com

GoPro: Julius Yego - The YouTube Man

GoPro

Discover the incredible story and journey of Julius Yego as he recounts his humble beginnings being raised in a Cheptonon village in Kenya, training with sim...

Video:www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO1fzo1aCHU

2 years ago 05/27/2022 3:20pm EDT

re: AXC

AXC wrote:
You are probably better off trying to convert a quarterback or a baseball player than a shotputter or discus thrower

Hall of Fame QB Terry Bradshaw set the national high school javelin record somewhere around 1965!

Reply Replying to

Username

Password

Leave the password field blank to post anonymously.

Post Preview

By posting you acknowledge that you have read and abide by our Terms and Conditions.

Remember me on this device.

Should we thank youtube for the rise of javelin stars in countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Kenya, India, and Grenada?

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

You have been subscribed.

Should we thank youtube for the rise of javelin stars in countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Kenya, India, and Grenada?

Follow rojo

Block rojo

Follow AXC

Block AXC

Follow barney23

Block barney23

Follow Runner10287

Block Runner10287

Follow WDC Runner

Block WDC Runner

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

Reply Replying to

You have been subscribed.