Neeraj Chopra receives crucial guidance from Carl Lewis: “Focus on competing with yourself”

Olympic legend Carl Lewis has offered Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra valuable advice on maintaining his position at the top of the sport.

After an inconsistent season in 2025, in which Neeraj broke the 90-metre barrier but failed to defend his World Athletics Championships crown—finishing 8th in Tokyo and ending his seven-year medal streak—he is determined to come back stronger next year.

Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medallist, told Neeraj that the key to sustained success is to compete against yourself rather than the world. Drawing from his own career, Lewis explained that even as a world number one in the 100 metres for over a decade, his focus was always on personal improvement rather than his competitors.

He said, “When you become number one in the world, you’re no longer competing against others; you’re competing against yourself. Every time you go out, aim to outdo your own performance. I started at 10.0 in the 100 metres, and by the end, I was running 9.86. That’s because I was focused on self-improvement, not just beating others. If you maintain that mindset, you can stay at the top.”

Neeraj, who also finished second in the Diamond League final, will be looking to elevate his performances in 2026.

Lewis also shared words of inspiration for aspiring athletes: “Find the motivation that keeps you going. Don’t let the fact that you haven’t won gold define you. Keep pushing, keep improving, and never stop believing in yourself.”