Neeraj Chopra bid a heartfelt farewell to his longtime coach Klaus Bartonietz on Wednesday, November 6 as the German coach concluded their five-year collaboration due to family obligations.
Bartonietz, who is 75, played a key role in guiding Chopra to major achievements, including his historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, a silver at this year’s Paris Games, and other prestigious titles. In October, Bartonietz had conveyed his decision to step down, as reported by a newswire.
Neeraj Chopra’s Coach Retires
Expressing his gratitude in a post on X, Chopra wrote, “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.”
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
Chopra praised Bartonietz for his support during challenging times, adding, “You stood by me through injury. You were there through the highs, and you were there even more through the lows.” He also expressed that he would miss the coach’s quiet yet impactful presence, along with the laughter and pranks they shared. “You were one of the quietest in the stands, but your words to me rang the loudest in my ears when I threw,” he wrote. “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.”
Indian athletics chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair confirmed that Bartonietz’s contract expired following the Paris Olympics, and that they aim to appoint a new coach by year’s end. “Yes, Dr Klaus will no longer be Neeraj’s coach. The AFI and Neeraj will together look for a coach for him,” Nair told a leading news agency. “Probably, we may have a coach for him before the end of this year. He (Dr Klaus) wants to be with his family. His contract with Neeraj has ended after the Paris Olympics.”
Bartonietz originally joined as a biomechanics expert but transitioned to Chopra’s coach after Uwe Hohn’s departure from the Athletics Federation of India and the Sports Authority of India. Under his guidance, Chopra achieved remarkable successes, including Olympic gold, a world championship title, a Diamond League victory, and an Asian Games gold.
Who Is Neeraj Chopra’s Coach?
In recent years, Neeraj Chopra has become a leading name in Indian athletics, excelling in javelin throw and defending titles in numerous major tournaments. While Chopra often garners attention, much credit is due to Klaus Bartonietz, the German coach who has been integral to his success.
Bartonietz, an expert in javelin mechanics, joined Chopra’s coaching team in 2018, initially as an assistant to fellow German coach Uwe Hohn, a former record-holding javelin thrower. Bartonietz assumed full coaching duties in 2021 after Chopra parted ways with Hohn, seeking a fresh approach to his training.
To understand Hohn’s achievements, it’s notable that he holds the distinction of throwing the javelin beyond 100 meters with a historic 104-meter throw, a record voided after a redesign of the javelin in 1986 required a reset of official records.
The Partnership Between Neeraj Chopra And Klaus Bartonietz
The partnership between Chopra and Bartonietz flourished, with Bartonietz steering Chopra through challenges, including an elbow injury in 2019 that sidelined him for nearly a year. Bartonietz and the coaching team put in significant effort to support Chopra’s recovery, enabling him to return to the field. By early 2020, Chopra had regained his form, throwing 87.86 meters at the Athletics Central North West League Meeting in South Africa, which qualified him for the Tokyo Olympics.
Despite setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, Bartonietz continued training Chopra, focusing on fitness and flexibility during lockdowns. After restrictions eased, the duo trained at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala before moving to Europe for competitions in Portugal and Sweden, where Chopra won gold at multiple events.
Their preparation paid off at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in August 2021, where Chopra made history by winning the gold medal with a throw of 87.58 meters, making him the first Indian to win Olympic gold in athletics. Bartonietz praised Chopra’s resilience, especially after a rigorous rehabilitation process, as the young athlete reached new heights in the sport.
Following this milestone, the Chopra-Bartonietz duo continued to chase new records. In 2022, Chopra missed defending his Commonwealth title due to injury, but Bartonietz guided him through recovery. In 2023, Chopra became India’s first World Athletics Champion with an 88.17-meter throw and later defended his Asian Games title with a throw of 88.88 meters.
2024 Paris Olympics
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Chopra recorded a season-best throw of 89.45 meters, earning him a silver medal as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a 92.97-meter throw. With this achievement, Chopra became the first Indian to secure medals at consecutive Olympic Games.
Though best known for his work with Chopra, Bartonietz is also recognized globally for his expertise in javelin throw biomechanics. He shares his insights in the podcast series Secrets of Sports Science, with a segment titled The Art of the Javelin Throw by Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, where he discusses technical aspects such as momentum, biomechanics, and release angles in javelin throw.
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