In a landmark moment for Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 with an astonishing 92.97m throw in the javelin final on Friday. Arshad Nadeem’s victory not only earned him an Olympic record but also marked Pakistan’s first-ever track and field medal at the Olympics, ending a 32-year medal drought for the nation.
The final began on a challenging note for Arshad Nadeem, as his first attempt was a no-throw. However, he quickly bounced back, delivering a record-breaking throw of 92.97m, setting the standard for the competition. Only Neeraj Chopra, the gold medalist from the Tokyo Games, came close with a throw of 89.45m, securing the silver medal.
Nadeem’s win sparked widespread celebrations among Pakistani fans, who took to social media platform ‘X’ to express their joy. Coming on the heels of disappointment from the Cricket World Cup 2024, Nadeem’s triumph offered a much-needed moment of national pride, with fans hailing his victory as a healing balm for the nation.
HAVE A LOOK AT THE MEMES:
Other Athletes. Arshad Nadeem pic.twitter.com/FUHMXMusCV
— BUNTY. (@atang_waddi) August 8, 2024
Babar Hota to 90 ke paas jakr Slow ho jata😭😭
— BUNTY. (@atang_waddi) August 8, 2024
Arshad Nadeem you healed something you didn’t break (pct trauma) https://t.co/3mNA7OYzXl
— Hania (@haniaqadirr) August 8, 2024
He picked up whole nation’s sorrows and threw it away pic.twitter.com/oeNibKXQFr
— Hassan (@Gotoxytop2) August 8, 2024
anyway pic.twitter.com/3UFDQVC2Zd
— M (@manalaijaz) August 8, 2024
Pakistani fans also showed immense respect for India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra, acknowledging the friendly rivalry and special bond shared by the two athletes from the neighboring countries.
Arshad Nadeem’s journey to this historic victory began when he became the first Pakistani athlete to qualify for an Olympic final in athletics, finishing fifth at the Tokyo 2020 Games. His triumph in Paris not only brings home Pakistan’s first Olympic gold since the 1992 Barcelona Games but also marks only the fourth gold in the nation’s Olympic history. Prior to this, Pakistan had never won an individual gold medal at the Olympics, making Nadeem’s achievement all the more significant.
