Arshad Nadeem

Arshad Nadeem is a Pakistani javelin thrower who won Pakistan's first Olympic gold medal in 40 years at the Paris 2024 Games. Born on 2 January 1997 in Mian Channu, a small town in Punjab, he grew up in a farming family and was introduced to javelin through cricket's cousin sport of "sang" throwing — a traditional village pastime.

Rise to the top

Arshad made his international debut in 2015 and steadily improved, winning a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games and gold at the 2019 South Asian Games. He battled a persistent elbow injury that required surgery in 2022, but returned strongly in 2023, winning a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest with a throw of 87.82m — Pakistan's first-ever medal at a World Athletics Championships.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, he produced the throw of his life: 92.97 metres in his second attempt, breaking the Olympic record and beating defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India to win gold — Pakistan's first Olympic gold since the 1984 hockey team's triumph, and its first individual gold ever.

Legacy

Arshad Nadeem's victory made him a national hero overnight, and he was awarded the Pride of Performance and given a hero's welcome across Pakistan. His story — from a village with no proper training facilities to an Olympic champion — has inspired a generation, and he continues to compete at the highest level.