Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has parted ways with legendary javelin thrower Jan Zelezny, concluding a coaching partnership that began in late 2024.
Their collaboration proved historic at the 2025 Doha Diamond League, where Neeraj breached the 90-metre mark for the first time in his career, a long-standing barrier finally broken.
Neeraj credited Zelezny with broadening his technical understanding and introducing fresh perspectives on rhythm and movement. “Working with Jan opened my eyes to so many new ideas. The way he thinks about technique, rhythm, and movement is incredible, and I learned a lot from every single session we had together,” Neeraj said.
Zelezny, a three-time Olympic gold medallist (1992, 1996, 2000) and three-time world champion (1993, 1995, 2001), also holds the world record of 98.48m. Reflecting on the partnership, he spoke warmly about both the results and the bond they built. “Working with an athlete like Neeraj was a great experience. I’m glad we met and were able to work together, and that I got him to break the 90-meter barrier for the first time. Our relationship is very positive, also on the human side, and we will continue to stay in touch,” Zelezny said.
Moving forward, Neeraj plans to take greater control of his coaching direction, drawing on lessons learned from multiple elite mentors. “I’m looking forward to what 2026 has in store. I started my preparation in early November. As always, the goal is to stay healthy, and I am already excited to be competing again soon,” he said.
Neeraj also set his sights firmly on the World Championships in 2027 and the Olympic Games in 2028, underlining his ambition to continue India’s dominance in global athletics.
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