Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has appointed javelin throw legend Jan Zelezny as his new coach in preparation for the 2025 season. Zelezny, a former Czech athlete, is a World and Olympic champion and holds the world record with a throw of 98.48 meters.

After the announcement, Neeraj expressed his admiration for Zelezny, stating, “Growing up, I admired Jan’s technique and precision and spent a lot of time watching videos of him.” He added, “He was the best in the sport for so many years, and I believe that working with him will be invaluable. Our throwing styles are similar, and his knowledge is unmatched.”

Zelezny will join Neeraj for a 31-day training camp in South Africa, starting later this month. Neeraj will train with Zelezny for the next two years, but not throughout the entire Olympic cycle.

Zelezny commented, “We are getting to know each other better and will begin in person at a traditional winter camp in South Africa. I believe in his progress, especially in the technical aspects, so he can continue achieving top results at major championships.”

Neeraj’s long-time coach, Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, recently announced his retirement due to age.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest javelin throwers in modern athletics, Zelezny holds the fourth, fifth, and sixth best performances of all time. The 58-year-old broke the world record four times throughout his career.

Born in Mlada Boleslav, Czechoslovakia, Zelezny won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics and gold medals at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics. He also claimed World Championship titles in 1993, 1995, and 2001.

His world record of 98.48 meters was set in 1996, and he established the World Championships record of 92.80 meters in 2001. In 1997, he surpassed the 90-meter mark five times in a single meet. Until September 2020, he was the only athlete to throw over 95 meters with the new type of javelin, achieving this feat three times during his career.