Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem has etched his name in Olympic history by shattering the men’s javelin throw record with an extraordinary 92.97m throw during the final. Achieving this monumental feat on his second attempt, Nadeem eclipsed the previous Olympic record of 90.57m, set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen.
Despite a rocky start, during which he initially aborted his first attempt due to a flawed run-up and eventually did not register his opening throw, Nadeem displayed remarkable composure and precision to deliver the record-breaking throw that stunned the athletics world.
The Pakistan javelin thrower, who claimed the silver medal at the 2023 World Championships, has consistently been a formidable force in the javelin circuit, and his Olympic record further cements his legacy. His primary rival, India’s Neeraj Chopra, led the qualification round with an impressive 89.34m throw and later improved to a season-best 89.45m in the final.
Nadeem was a gold medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which Chopra skipped owing to an injury. He also won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games. In the previous Olympics, Nadeem stood fifth with the highest attempt of 84.62m.
Nadeem was widely seen as Pakistan’s top contender for a medal at the Olympic games, and with his gargantuan throw in the final, he has all but assured that he will stand on the podium after the final. If Arshad wins a medal, he will become the first track and field athlete from the country to stand on the Olympic podium.
Nadeem’s record-breaking throw is a testament to his unwavering determination and exceptional talent. It is a moment of immense pride for Pakistan and a historic achievement that will inspire generations to come.
