In a historic moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem clinched the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw with a record-shattering performance. Nadeem’s throw of 92.97 meters not only secured Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medal but also set a new Olympic record, surpassing the previous mark of 90.57 meters set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008.Nadeem’s monumental achievement is multifaceted: it marks Pakistan’s first Olympic medal since 1992, their first-ever gold in athletics, and ends a 40-year gold medal drought for the country. The throw also stands as an Asian record and ranks as the sixth-longest in the history of the event.India’s Neeraj Chopra, the defending Olympic champion, claimed the silver medal with a season-best throw of 89.45 meters. Chopra, who had never lost to Nadeem in their previous 10 encounters, struggled with his form, managing only one valid throw out of six attempts. Grenada’s Anderson Peters secured the bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters, a redemption after failing to reach the final in Tokyo three years ago.Nadeem’s victory was described as ‘a bolt from the blue that stunned the Stade de France’, highlighting the unexpected nature of his triumph. The Pakistani athlete’s performance was consistent throughout the competition, with another impressive throw of 91.79 meters in the final round.”It was a great day,” Nadeem said, celebrating his historic victory. The competition between Nadeem and Chopra has been highlighted as a new chapter in the sporting rivalry between Pakistan and India, while also showcasing the spirit of sportsmanship and friendship between the two athletes.
Key points
- Arshad Nadeem won Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medal with a record-breaking javelin throw of 92.
- Nadeem’s throw set a new Olympic record, surpassing the previous mark by over two meters.
- Neeraj Chopra of India, the defending champion, won silver with a throw of 89.
- The victory marks Pakistan’s first Olympic medal since 1992 and first-ever gold in athletics.
97 meters.
45 meters.
