Neeraj and I deserve a medal, but if he is better than me I will respect that: Julian Weber

Julian Weber: It was the first competition of the season so I was really motivated. Neeraj and I were talking during the competition, motivating each other saying ‘we can get the 90 meters’. We knew something big could happen. So it was nice with Neeraj supporting me. Then he hit the 90 meters first. I was really happy for him. He worked really hard to reach that goal. Then he said ‘you can do it too’. It was insane that I also was able to hit 91 meters in the last throw. It was special for both of us. I was very happy to win but I was also a little sad because I wished that Neeraj also got his own moment (of glory). I mean, that was also Neeraj’s first 90-meter throw.
Technically, the throw was at a good angle. I always had a little bit of a problem with the block (blocking leg) but it worked out better that day. The run-up and rhythm was smooth. We also had a good backwind in Doha which helped.

What is helping you throw 90-metre plus this year? You had 90-plus throws in the Diamond League Final also. Is it because you are injury free, or a change in technique or a different mental approach?

Julian Weber: Everything makes a difference. Mentally, I go more relaxed and calm at competitions. I try to focus more on myself, on the technique. My technique is much better; how I go into the throw, the angle of the javelin, how I hold it, my right leg more into throwing direction, staying close (compact) in the throwing position and moving more forward into the throw. Also I have been training for a while now without any big injuries. So I am feeling good, having fun and throwing far.

You say you are more calm now. Earlier, were you too eager to do well?

Julian Weber: Before at big championships, I was so motivated that I pushed myself too hard and I was in beast mode. It’s good, but it was too much. Also I felt that in Paris (Olympics), I was so motivated, pushing myself a lot but I wasn’t that focused, I wasn’t with myself. And then there were 85,000 people (in the stadium). Unfortunately, I couldn’t show what I was capable of at that moment.

The ideal release angle of the javelin is said to be about 36-38 degrees. Does that matter to you?

Julian Weber: I don’t know exactly because I don’t think about degrees. For me it is more about feeling, how you approach the throw, where you are aiming and where you are focusing also with my eyes.

Germany didn’t win a medal at the 2023 World Championships. You are, like Neeraj is for India, the big medal hope.

Julian Weber: I know there is pressure. But I think there are other good athletes and Germany will be better at this World Championships. But I have been in this business for a long time and know how to handle pressure. I am looking forward to throwing far.

In the last three World Championships and the previous two Olympics no European male won the gold in javelin. Why do you think that has happened?

Julian Weber: It’s crazy. It’s shifted a lot. There’s so many great javelin throwers all around the world, like from Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Pakistan and Kenya. And it’s really nice. It’s probably one of the most international disciplines. It’s nice to see that javelin throw is getting bigger all around the world. And especially in India, it has gotten really big with Neeraj. I think change came a little bit because of Kenyan Julius Yego (2015 World Champion), the YouTube man. A lot of people thought that if he can do it… learning javelin throw and winning a medal at the World Championship, I can do that too. And then there was also Keshorn Walcott (from Trinidad and Tobago) winning gold at the 2012 Olympics. It’s just the evolution of the javelin throw.

Javelin fans in India are worried about you and also Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem giving Neeraj tough competition. How does it feel to be challenging Neeraj, the current world champion?

Julian Weber: I really like the Indian community. And I also have a lot of Indian followers. And they’re really into the javelin throw. I really hope that if I win a medal, Neeraj also wins a medal. We both deserve a medal. And if I am better than him that day, I know he will respect that. And I will respect him, if it’s the other way around. So I hope the Indians will like it too if I win a medal.

How do you look at the men’s final with strong competitors from across the world, including Neeraj?

Julian Weber: It will be a very good competition because there are good throwers who can throw around 90 metres or more. Arshad Nadeem did it last year but we didn’t see him that much this year. You have to prepare for Nadeem also throwing far. Neeraj is also in great shape and can throw really far. The Brazilian (Luiz Mauricio da Silva) can throw really far, Walcott can throw far. It will be a tough competition and I hope everyone enjoys it.

When Neeraj won the Olympic gold and came back to India, he didn’t have a free day for at least two months. He became a superstar. In Germany it must be a little different?

Julian Weber: Neeraj and I talk about a lot of stuff and not only about javelin throw. I can totally understand. It was also a lot for him after winning the medal. I mean, he was the first guy ever winning a gold medal (in track and field) for India. In Germany, you’re also kind of a superstar, but not that big like Neeraj. But it’s also a big dream for us to win a medal. But it does not make that much difference (in terms of celebrity status) for us as to how it was for Neeraj.

Neeraj Chopra with Germany’s Julian Weber and Czech Republic’s Jakub Wadlejch. (Photo: Screengrab)

You were known to have a very strong arm from your school days. You once threw a ball into a parking lot far away.

Julian Weber: We are a handball family. I had a good throwing arm from a young age and was good at ball throwing. And the teachers were angry at me because I was throwing too far into the car park. I went to a new school and it was one of the first days and I threw the shot put through the window. Yeah, there were some funny moments. And my brother was also playing in the first division (Bundesliga) in handball. He also had the fastest throw in the first division, like 120 kilometers per hour. We wanted to do the challenge of who has the faster, harder throw but we never measured it. Also handball is different from javelin so it is hard to compare.

You played handball in your early teenage years and then came back to athletics. Why?

Julian Weber: I always loved handball, but I also did track and field in between. But at the age of 16, my old coach asked me as I have a good throwing arm, if I want to try javelin throw again. There was a regional javelin competition that day and I tried it out and won. I threw about 52 metres without javelin spikes. And I became pretty good, pretty fast and after two years of training, I was the Under-20 European Champion. There is this crazy story… I also played handball until some months before the European Championship and broke my thumb. And then I had to change my grip. I held the javelin between the index and middle fingers and I continue with that even today. It works for me. Very few people use that grip, hardly anybody.

After the 2022 European Championships you took a break. How was it?

Julian Weber: I just needed a mental break and wanted to recharge my body. Javelin throw is really tough and there is a lot of tension for your body. So, after some years, it’s always good to have longer breaks to recover. I also did my army training. I am a ‘sporting-soldier’ in the army.

You had injuries, including surgery to the left tendon of your foot. Have you now started listening to your body more?

Julian Weber: You learn a lot through the years, you know much better what your body needs to feel good and to throw well. I do a lot more recovery work than in my early years. Most of the time it is better to do less than too much. I always try to feel good and not do too much weight training or stuff like that.