Kenya: Javelin Throwing Olympian Trains Using YouTube  · Global Voices
Richard Wanjohi

This is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
Julius Yego, the African and Kenyan national javelin champion, broke the national record over the weekend in a field athletics meet in Finland. After using YouTube to hone his skills and techniques, Yego's record improved to 81.12 metres.
Julius Yego – Image courtesy of nation.co.ke
SportsKenya blog compiles Yego’s exploits:
Participating in an event which has never been a speciality for Kenya let alone Africa, he managed to hone his skill and better his technique using this (YouTube) social media platform. And true to word, his skill got better and his technique won him the first ever gold medal for a field event for Kenya in the 2011 All- Africa Games in the Mozambican capital of Maputo. This he did by breaking the national record to a then (new national) record throw of 78.34 m.
Hoping to better his throwing before the start of the July-August event, Yego will surely join the many sportsmen and women who have made Olympic folklore not just by becoming champions but also by the mere part of participating in this sporting extravaganza. And he still recognises the role that social media plays in his everyday life of ensuring he becomes a world beater in the throw sport of javelin…thanks to YouTube!
Heart, Soul & Mind makes it clear who they will be rooting for:
We will compete in the 4x400m men relay and have a representation in the field games with Julius Yego embracing his javelin (a first for us). In the ring Ben Gicharu and Elizabeth Andiego will carry the flag. I will certainly be watching the Olympics this season, rooting for Team Kenya and enjoying the strength and lessons that sport always brings out.
Highligting Yego’s lessons, Kenyatech shows what Kenyans online can use YouTube for:
Some people even look to it for direction in learning or perfecting their techniques in sports, hobbies or art – even javelin gold medallist Julius Yego turned to YouTube for guidance. YouTube plans to garner partnerships with local communities, producers, individuals and companies to foster and support this pattern of “edutainment”, aspiring to not only make videos stream faster, but also provide all of this through a local interface that provides pertinent information for Kenyans
In an unprecedented move, YouTube plans to live stream Olympic content:
Yep, the 2012 Olympics will be streamed live on The International Olympic Committee’s YouTube channel in 64 countries world-wide. NBC, aka the official broadcaster of the Olympics, is teaming up with YouTube to provide a constant stream of Olympic competition. This is the first year that every single Olympic game will be available to viewers, whether they are at the beach, outside drinking sangria or enjoying the summer from the comfort of their own work cubicle! So while some may be opening tabs at bars to watch the Olympics, others…will be opening up their own tabs and charging them straight to YouTube!
This is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.