In an emotional farewell, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra announced that he will be parting ways with his long-time coach, Klaus Bartonietz, who is retiring and returning to Germany. Together, they achieved great success, including Neeraj’s historic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, another Olympic medal, two golds at the Asian Games, and a World Championship title.
Neeraj Chopra Bids Emotional Farewell to Coach Klaus Bartonietz
In October, PTI reported that Klaus Bartonietz had expressed his desire to end his successful partnership with Neeraj Chopra and return to Germany. The 75-year-old coach cited his age and family commitments as reasons for parting ways with the Indian javelin star. Neeraj later took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Bartonietz, calling him more than just a mentor.
The javelin star thanked his coach, Klaus Bartonietz, for supporting him through injuries and the tough moments in his career. Neeraj expressed that he would miss their time together as a team and ended his message by wishing Bartonietz a happy retirement. The 26-year-old also shared a heartwarming video on his X account, showcasing the journey they had as a team.
Neeraj Chopra’s Heartfelt Tribute to His Mentor
“I write this without knowing where to begin. Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me. Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person. You have gone out of your way to make sure I was mentally and physically prepared for every competition. You stood by me through injury.”
“You were there through the highs, and you were there even more through the lows. You were one of the quietest in the stands, but your words to me rang the loudest in my ears when I threw. I will miss the pranks and the laughs we shared, but more than anything, I will miss US as a team. Thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of yours.”
“Happy retirement, coach,” said Neeraj on X.
I write this without knowing where to begin.
Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me. Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person. You have gone out of your way to make sure I was mentally and physically prepared for every competition. You stood… pic.twitter.com/kJxaPqmHmm
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) November 6, 2024
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The 75-year-old Bartonietz joined the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) in 2019 as a biomechanical expert. He became Neeraj Chopra’s coach after a fallout between the athlete and his previous mentor, Uwe Hohn, along with the AFI. Bartonietz’s final event with Chopra was the Diamond League final in Brussels earlier this year, where Chopra finished in second place.
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