Arshad Nadeem ended Pakistan’s 40-year wait for an Olympic gold medal as the 27-year-old set a new Olympic record to win the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Indian star athlete Neeraj Chopra claimed a silver medal with his season-best throw.
In the men’s javelin throw final event, Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem managed a distance of 92.97m during his second attempt of the night. His last attempt also breached the 90m mark, managing a distance of 91.79m. Both throws managed higher distances than the previous Olympic record of 90.57m by Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen at Beijing 2008.
Arshad Nadeem created history for Pakistan
It was Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medal in 40 years. The country’s previous Olympic gold medal was the men’s hockey team’s gold medal at the Los Angeles 1984.
In the meantime, it was Pakistan’s first Olympic medal in 32 years. The country’s previous Olympic medal was the men’s hockey team’s bronze medal at the Barcelona 1992.
Previously, an individual Pakistani athlete won an Olympic medal in Seoul 1988, when boxer Hussain Shah claimed the bronze medal in the men’s middleweight event. Arshad Nadeem became the first Pakistani individual athlete to claim an Olympic gold medal.
Defending champion Neeraj Chopra had a frustrating night
Meanwhile, the defending champion, Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra, claimed the silver medal. It was a frustrating night for the defending champion, as he managed only one legitimate throw out of six. His second throw of the night reached a distance of 89.45m, which was enough for him to win the silver medal.
Grenadian athlete Anderson Peters claimed the bronze medal with his best throw of the night, 88.54m. It was the second bronze medal for Grenada at the Paris 2024 Olympics, as the country first time won more than one medal in a Summer Olympics edition.
