Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra shared an emotional farewell to his long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz, who is retiring and returning to Germany. Their journey, marked by groundbreaking achievements, included Chopra’s historic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, an additional Olympic medal, two Asian Games golds, and a World Championship title.
Bartonietz, 75, had earlier expressed his desire to conclude their partnership, citing his age and family commitments. Neeraj took to X (formerly Twitter) to honor Bartonietz, describing him as “more than just a mentor.” He praised the German coach’s unwavering support, especially through injuries and challenging moments in his career, and expressed his gratitude for Bartonietz’s guidance both on and off the field.
Neeraj posted a touching message along with a video on X, capturing the special moments they shared. In his heartfelt message, he said, “Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me… You were there through the highs, and you were there even more through the lows. 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.”
Bartonietz first joined the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) in 2019 as a biomechanical expert and took on the role of Chopra’s coach after the athlete’s split with former mentor Uwe Hohn. Bartonietz’s last event with Chopra was the Diamond League final in Brussels this year, where Chopra finished in second place.
