Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record on Thursday, bringing an end to Pakistan’s 32-year wait for success at the Games by securing the prestigious gold medal in the men’s javelin final in Paris.
Hailing from Mian Channu, Nadeem had a slow start, recording a no-throw on his first attempt of the night. However, he stunned everyone with his second attempt, launching a massive 92.97-meter throw, a mark that no other competitor could approach for the remainder of the competition.
Trailing Nadeem on the podium was his rival and defending champion Neeraj Chopra, who also fouled on his first attempt before ultimately securing a silver medal with an 89.45-meter throw on his second attempt.
Grenada’s Anderson Peters earned bronze, his first Olympic medal, with an 88.54-meter throw.
Nadeem’s throw marked Pakistan’s first individual gold medal, its first track and field medal, and only the second time a South Asian has achieved a podium finish in track and field.
This throw also broke the previous Olympic record of 90.57 meters, set by the Netherlands’ Andreas Thorkildsen at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The throw now ranks as the sixth-longest in history and the best in the world this year.
Tonight’s final intensified the Pakistan-India rivalry that Nadeem and Chopra have sustained over the years. Just last year, the two athletes went 1-2, with Chopra winning gold and Nadeem taking silver at the World Athletics Championships.
Chopra, who entered the final as the top seed with an 89.34-meter throw, had a shaky performance throughout the night. The reigning world champion and Tokyo 2020 gold medalist recorded five foul throws, with his lone 89.45-meter throw being enough to secure silver.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Nadeem on his victory, writing on social media platform X, “You’ve made the whole nation proud, young man.”
