Pakistan’s athlete Arshad Nadeem scripted history by winning the men’s javelin final in the Stade de France at the Paris Olympics 2024. On Thursday night, the 27-year-old, who was dubbed underdog, emerged as the first track and field competitor from Pakistan to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Nadeem broke the 90.
57m record of Norway’s Andreas Thorkilden at Beijing 2008 when he put a distance of 92.97m, the longest throw in the world this year. Along with taking gold, the javelin thrower has become Pakistan’s first medallist since 1992, when their men’s hockey team clinched bronze in Barcelona.
The athlete who finished fifth in Tokyo and won a silver at the world championships in 2023, is now listed among the world’s four javelin throwers who’ve managed to cross the 90m mark at the Olympics. Not many know the 27-year-old was once a cricketer before switching to javelin. Nadeem claims leaving cricket was the “best thing” to happen to him.
“I wouldn’t be in the Olympics otherwise,” he said previously. - Incredible achievement #ArshadNadeem you've broken the drought & made Pakistan proud 🇵🇰 🪙 92.97m will be etched in history forever 🔥 Congratulations on this monumental feat 👏🏼 #IamGAME #ArshadNadeem #PakistanAtOlympics pic.
twitter.com/pVKG4Eap4E — Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) August 8, 2024 After his victory, the athlete said, “When I threw the javelin, I got the feel of it leaving my hand, and sensed it could be an Olympic record, inshallah (God willing)," as per Reuters. Nadeem was competing against reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra from India, who won the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in this sport during the Tokyo Games.
But Chopra, who is suffering from a groin injury, couldn’t cross the 90m mark this time. 92.97m by Arshad Nadeem.
91.79m by Arshad Nadeem. 89.
45m by Neeraj Chopra. 88.72m by Arshad Nadeem.
- Arshad dominated the final...
.!!!! #ArshadNadeem #JavelinThrow pic.twitter.
com/cd3B9Hlpe7 — Paris 2024 Olympics Commentary (@Paris2024Club) August 8, 2024 The 26-year-old’s best throw was recorded at 89.45m. "I'm not that happy with my performance today and also my technique and runway was not that good," said Chopra, as per Reuters.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO OLYMPIC GLORY! 🇵🇰💫 Arshad Nadeem, a true fighter from a poor family, shatters records & stereotypes! His determination & resilience inspire a nation! Proud of you, #ArshadNadeem #Olympics pic.twitter.com/tbaNwLYHZt — Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) August 8, 2024 Following him was Grenada’s Anderson Peters with his best throw at 88.
54 that got him the bronze medal..
