Arshad Nadeem Makes History with Pakistan’s First Olympic Gold in 32 Years
Arshad Nadeem made history by securing Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medal in 32 years, setting a new Games record with an incredible throw of 92.97 meters in the men’s javelin throw final. This remarkable achievement marked Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold, as the country’s previous gold medals were all won in field hockey in 1960, 1968, and 1984.
Arshad’s victory in Paris was particularly inspiring, as he overcame significant challenges, including struggling to afford a new javelin for his training. After his record-breaking throw, Arshad, wrapped in the Pakistan flag, shared an emotional moment with his coach, a video of which quickly went viral on social media.
The 27-year-old athlete, who previously won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a silver medal at last year’s Budapest World Championships, emphasized the significance of this win for Pakistan. “My training and hard work have paid off. This result is very important for Pakistan because I have worked tirelessly over the years for this moment,” Arshad said.
In a podcast, @Arshadnadeem76 said, “Mera aik hi sponsor hai, aur wo mera baap hai”. In English,”I have just one sponsor, my father”.
For a guy, who struggled even to collect money to buy a new javelin worth just 85k(1000$), have no one to support him, not just scoring 🥇in… pic.twitter.com/dEkmcACcop
— Aman Sharma (@amansharmadb) August 9, 2024
Arshad also acknowledged the javelin rivalry with India’s Neeraj Chopra, the Tokyo gold medalist, who took silver in Paris. He highlighted the positive impact this rivalry has on sports in both countries. “Rivalry is there when it comes to cricket and other sports, but it’s a good thing for the young people in both countries to watch our sport and follow us. It’s a positive thing for both countries,” Arshad said.
Neeraj Chopra echoed this sentiment, noting that the rivalry could inspire more people in both countries to take up athletics, particularly javelin throwing.
Looking ahead, Arshad has set even bigger goals for himself. “I was expecting to go even further, and I am hoping to do so. I will work harder to extend my personal best to over 95 meters,” he shared after his Olympic triumph, which surpassed his previous best by more than two meters.
