Arshad Nadeem’s historic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics has not only brought immense pride to Pakistan but also sparked a hilarious exchange between the Olympic champion and his father-in-law.
Nadeem, who hails from the rural area of Khanewal in Punjab, was surprised to learn that his father-in-law, Muhammad Nawaz, would be gifting him a buffalo as a token of honor. In Pakistan’s rural communities, receiving a buffalo is considered a significant gesture of appreciation.
However, Nadeem had a humorous reaction to the news. “She was the one who told me and I said buffalo?” Nadeem said on ARY News. “He could have given me five acres of land. But then I said ok fine, he gave me a buffalo, that is also nice,” he said while laughing.
Nadeem’s wife, who was unaware of the gift until she heard it through the media, also expressed her amusement. “She learned about it through some interviews, and she came and told me about it. I said, ‘ A buffalo? By God’s grace, he is so rich, and he gave a buffalo?'” said Nadeem.
Beyond the humorous anecdotes, Nadeem’s gold medal is a testament to his exceptional athleticism and resilience. He is the first Pakistani to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event and the first from the country since their men’s hockey team in 1984 to win any gold medal at the Games.
Nadeem’s victory was particularly remarkable considering that he was managing an injury throughout the Olympics. “Just five minutes before I had to go to the call room, I felt a pain. I told my coach. And he said, ‘kuch nahi hota, tu sher hai (there will be no issues, you are a lion,’” Nadeem revealed.
Despite the pain, Nadeem started the men’s javelin final with a foul throw, but his second attempt was a monster 92.97m attempt that was well over the previous Olympic record of 90.57m. It virtually assured him gold, and while Indian defending champion Neeraj Chopra threw his season’s best of 89.45m, no one was able to cross 90m on the night.
Nadeem finished off his series of six throws with a final 91.79m attempt, which itself was more than the previous Olympic record. His performance is a testament to his determination and the unwavering support of his family and coaches.
