Arshad Nadeem made history for Pakistan by winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in 40 years with a remarkable 92.97-meter throw in the men’s javelin final at Paris 2024. This throw, the sixth longest in history and the best ever by an Asian athlete at the Olympics, secured Nadeem’s place as Pakistan’s first-ever athletics Olympic champion.
After a foul on his first attempt, Nadeem delivered a stunning performance on his second throw, earning widespread praise. The Paris 2024 organizers acknowledged his achievement, dubbing him the “Pride of Pakistan” on social media.
Pakistan had last won an Olympic gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Games in men’s hockey, and this victory marks the country’s first individual gold, with all previous medals having been won in field hockey. This gold also ends a 32-year medal drought for Pakistan, the last being a bronze in men’s hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Nadeem’s closest competitor, India’s Neeraj Chopra, took silver with a throw of 89.45 meters, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters won bronze with an 88.54-meter throw.
Celebrations erupted across Pakistan, especially in Nadeem’s hometown of Mian Chunnu in Punjab, where crowds danced to drumbeats in honor of his achievement.