Neeraj Chopra Gears Up for Ostrava Golden Spike, Reflects on Usain Bolt's Legacy

As Neeraj Chopra gears up for his debut at the Ostrava Golden Spike, he reflects on the influence of Usain Bolt and shares insights into his training and mindset. After a successful season, including a recent victory at the Paris Diamond League, Neeraj aims to maintain his momentum. With his coach Jan Zelezny's support, he is ready to face the competition and defend his world title later this year. Read on to learn more about his journey and expectations for the upcoming event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 24, 2025, 02:02 IST

Neeraj Chopra's Anticipation for the Ostrava Golden Spike

Ostrava [Czech Republic], June 23: As the Ostrava Golden Spike event approaches on Tuesday, India's Olympic gold medalist and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra expressed his admiration for the legendary sprinter Usain Bolt, who frequently participated in this event during his athletic career.

This marks Neeraj's debut at the Ostrava meet, having missed last year's competition due to an injury. In a recent press conference, he shared his thoughts on Bolt, an eight-time Olympic champion and eleven-time world champion, while discussing his training and mindset for the upcoming event. Last year, Neeraj attended the meet as a special guest.

“As a child, I watched numerous videos and photos of athletes like Usain Bolt competing here. I was present last year but couldn’t compete due to my injury,” Neeraj stated, as reported by Olympics.com.

“I feel good now, but I don’t want to pressure myself into hitting another 90m. I will give it my all,” he added.

Neeraj enters the competition following a second-place finish and a throw exceeding 90 meters at the Doha Diamond League, along with a victory at the Paris Diamond League last week. He aims to maintain this positive momentum in Czechia.

“The competition in Paris was challenging and came late. My first throw was promising, but I’m not sure what happened afterward... My last Diamond League win was in Lausanne 2023, so I’m pleased to have secured a win this year,” Neeraj remarked.

The Ostrava event takes place on the home ground of his coach, Jan Zelezny, who set the world record in men's javelin throw with a distance of 98.48 meters in 1996. Neeraj spoke highly of his relationship with Zelezny.

“I’m thrilled to work with such an exceptional athlete and coach. I’ve already achieved a 90m throw this year after refining my technique. Let’s see what happens next, but I’m prepared. We’ve had productive training in Nymburk, and I’ll strive to perform my best in Ostrava,” Neeraj expressed.

Zelezny, who was also at the event, praised Neeraj for elevating the profile of javelin throw both in India and globally, stating, “It’s crucial for javelin and throws in general to be recognized in athletics; it’s not solely about sprints. Neeraj has opened doors for other nations, which is fantastic for our sport.”

This will be Neeraj's fifth event of the season as he prepares to defend his world title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. Following the Ostrava meet, he will compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on July 5.