Going for his fourth unprecedented Olympics in Paris, Kenya’s javelin star Julius Yego says a podium finish will be a plus to his glittering career.

Yego, 35, has represented Kenya in all major competitions, winning silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, aworld title in 2015, Commonwealth Games gold in 2014, two-time Africa Games champion and a recordfive-time Africa champion.

Yego, who is in Miramas, France, where Team Kenya has pitched camp for the Pre-Olympics preparations,acknowledged the significance of having a boot camp before the games, which officially start July 26 in theFrench capital.

“With my age now if I get an Olympic medal, I will be so happy. My ultimate goal is to win gold that wouldsee me accomplish my achievements in my career. I have achieved whatever I wanted as a javelin thrower. I want a continuation of it, I don’t want to stop it, I feel I can still do it,” Yego said after the morning session inMiramas.

“For now, I am working on my throws and speed just to get it right and the distance will automaticallycome. My target is the qualification to the final, therefore, I am focusing on throwing 82m and get theautomatic qualification,” the Kapsabet Boys alumni stated.

“I love Miramas, it has all the javelin facilities and that is the most important thing for me. The weather isalso good which is similar to what we will encounter during the games,” Yego outlined.

Yego, fondly known as the “YouTube man” don’t have the luxury of having a coach neither a trainingpartner, but said there’s nothing to worry about since he is used to it.

“I am used to training alone, but it is difficult not having someone to correct me especially when you are going to a big competition like this. There is a French coach who is here but there is language barrier, we have a translator but it’s alwaysgood to have someone who you can speak to me directly, hopefully all will go well and I perform well inParis,” he underscored.

Qualifying for the Paris Olympics has however not been a smooth ride and at some point Yego disclosed thathe lost hope on booking a ticket to Paris.

“It was tough qualifying for the Olympics, I had to wait until the last minute to see if I have qualified through the rankings. It has not been easy, this was the most difficult season for me, I started well in March, but Igot injured at the Kip Keino Classic, although I managed to overcome the challenge and here I am qualifiedfor the Olympics,” Yego, the National Police Service athlete revealed.

He added, “I am fit now, I am trying to push the body to the limit so that I get it right at the Olympics, it isthe right time to push now and I am feeling well.”

Yego hinted that Paris might be his last Olympics and was worried that there is no one to take over fromhim.

“If today I decide to quit, we will not have anybody to represent Kenya. I have tried to elevate the game for16 years now. We have the talent but the problem is the facilities and the sport is not cheap; a javelin costsat least 200,000 shillings. So, if we get this right, we will be good to go,” Yego said.

“I feel like I am on my tail end of my career and it’s a shame that it will end with me because there is no one to take it up from me. We have a few who are trying, hopefully they will pick it up from there and they willget the support they require.”

With the last Olympics in Tokyo held under the Covid-19 restrictions, Yego is looking forward to havinggood times in the village that provides a lifetime opportunity to brush shoulders with the best sportspersonalities in the world.

“The essence of Olympics is networking. Tokyo 2020 did not allow us to mingle, exchange culture because ofCovid. The village life is really exciting since it provides a chance to meet the best in different fields. In 2012, Imet Ryan Giggs the Manchester United legend, it is really exciting to be in the village.”