Rohler eyes Kip Keino Classic spark as he plots javelin revival

Olympic javelin champion Thomas Rohler is banking on the energy of Nairobi’s Kip Keino Classic this weekend to rediscover the golden form that lit up the 2016 Rio Games, as he sharpens up for a tilt at glory at the World Championships in Tokyo this September.

During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the German heaved a 90.30m throw to claim his maiden Olympic crown ahead of Kenyan Julius Yego (88.24m) and Keshorn Walcott (85.38m) of Trinidad and Tobago.

Since that golden summer in Rio, the German’s only other major triumph came at the 2018 European Championships on home soil in Berlin, where he thrilled the crowd with an 89.47m victory, fending off compatriot Andreas Hofmann (87.60m) and Estonia’s Magnus Kirt (85.96m). 

That same year, he also struck gold at the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava with an 87.07m throw, with Taiwanese Cheng Chao-tsun (83.28m) and Grenada's Anderson Peters (80.86m) completing the podium. Fast forward to 2025, the now 32-year-old is plotting a late-career resurgence.

Rohler, who landed in the country on Wednesday night, will be hoping to upgrade his second-place finish from last year's edition. During the 5th edition of the Kip Keino classic in 2024, Rohler finished second with an 80.62m mark behind Latvia's Gatis Cakss (81.74m) and ahead of Belgium's Timothy Herman (79.94).

Rohler hopes the Kip Keino Classic can act as a platform to sharpen his form ahead of the long season with the Tokyo showdown in his mind.

"Personally, it's going to be a long season, I'm just coming back now, I'm trying to be there (in Tokyo), which is a big goal. It's huge coming back after a few years of struggle. I hope it (Tokyo) will be very much in reach," Rohler said.

Beyond Tokyo, Rohler is setting his sights on one final flourish—a dream second Olympic title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. "I will only back down on this dream if my body refuses, but I want to go to the Olympics and make it a double," he added. The German opened his season on May 11 with the meet in the Czech Republic, where he won with an 80.37m throw

"This is my second outing after the Czech Republic meet, so I am doing all I can to build confidence on the track. I am just glad to be here and compete again," he stated. For Rohler, the Kip Keino Classic is more than just a meet—it’s a special stop on the global circuit.

"Sports is not always about winning medals, it's also about going to new places and having good competitions, and this is just one of them."

He also highlighted his deep-seated friendship with Kenya javelin legend Yego. "Yego and I are one of the old guys already, but we still enjoy the sport so much. We text each other regularly about our competitions," he noted.

This year’s javelin showdown in Nairobi promises to be one of the event’s most electrifying yet, with Rohler lining up alongside Yego and Olympic bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada. "The field is strong this time, and it's going to be a very good competition. I am looking forward to it."

On the global scene, the German ace acknowledged the surging standard in men’s javelin. "Ten years ago, throwing 90m was something magical. I think when more athletes started throwing over 90m over the years, people got more used to it."

"This year we have already seen huge competition at the Doha Diamond League," he noted. In Doha, German Julian Weber heaved a world-leading throw of 91.06m to clinch victory ahead of India's Neeraj Chopra (90.23m) and Peters (85.64m). However, Rohler is candid about Germany’s fading dominance in the event.

“We had a golden generation of javelin throwers. But our period of luck is fading. There’s a worrying gap behind us, especially in the under-23 category,” he said.

“Throwing 80m is good, but to break into the 90m club takes something more, special talent, nurturing and motivation. That’s what we need to rebuild.”