Arshad Nadeem-early career years

Arshad Nadeem’s journey in the world of javelin throw has been nothing short of extraordinary. His rise to prominence began in 2015, and over the years, he has become a name synonymous with javelin excellence. Nadeem’s dedication and hard work paid off spectacularly at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he made history with his record-breaking performances.

Early years (2015 – 2019) Arshad Nadeem began competing in javelin throw events in 2015. The following year, in 2016, he received a scholarship from World Athletics, which allowed him to train at the IAAF High-Performance Training Centre in Mauritius. These were his early career years. In February 2016, Arshad won a bronze medal at the South Asian Games in Guwahati, India, setting a national record and a personal best with a throw of 78.33 meters. In June, he earned another bronze medal at the 17th Asian Junior Athletics Championship in Ho Chi Minh City. In May 2017, Arshad secured a bronze medal with a throw of 76.33 meters at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku. Arshad Nadeem started competing in javelin throw events in 2015, quickly making a mark with a scholarship from World Athletics in 2016.

His early years saw him earning bronze medals at the South Asian Games. Despite setbacks like injuries, his perseverance led to a notable performance at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, where he set a national record with a throw of 83.65 meters.

By April 2018, he had set a new personal best of 80.45 meters during the qualification round of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, finishing eighth overall. Unfortunately, he sustained a back injury following the end of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Despite this setback, in August 2018, he won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he set a new personal best and national record of 80.75 meters. In 2019, Arshad was the only Pakistani athlete to compete at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. There, he achieved another personal best and national record with a throw of 81.52 meters. In November 2019, he broke the national record once more with an 83.65-meter throw, winning gold for WAPDA at the 33rd National Games in Peshawar. The following month, in December 2019, Arshad won a gold medal with a record-breaking throw of 86.29 meters at the 13th South Asian Games in Nepal. These years were very important in his starting career.

Tokyo Olympics Arshad Nadeem made his Olympic debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were held in Tokyo in 2021. In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Arshad Nadeem made a notable debut. Despite limited training facilities, he became the first Pakistani track and field athlete to qualify for an Olympic final. His performance, where he finished fifth, set the stage for his future successes. He was the first Pakistani track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympics. However, his father mentioned that he didn’t have proper training facilities before the Olympics. He trained in the courtyard of his home and on the streets and reportedly received no financial support from the Government of Pakistan after qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. Nadeem has spoken openly about the tough conditions faced by non-cricket athletes in Pakistan, who often don’t get the attention or support they need from sports officials. On August 4, 2021, he made history by becoming the first Pakistani to qualify for the final of an Olympic track and field event. In the men’s javelin throw final, he finished fifth with a throw of 84.62 meters.

Starting in March 2022, Arshad Nadeem trained in South Africa under the guidance of coach Terseus Liebenberg. This training was organized by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP). In July 2022, Nadeem competed in the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, representing Pakistan as the only athlete from his country. He finished fifth in the final with a throw of 86.16 meters.

On August 7, 2022, Arshad Nadeem won a gold medal for Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games. Even though he was injured, he set a new game record with a throw of 90.18 meters on his fifth attempt, beating world champion Anderson Peters’ throw of 88.64 meters. Nadeem became the first South Asian to surpass the 90-meter mark. This victory also marked Pakistan’s first athletics gold medal at the Commonwealth Games since 1962.

Gold medal Five days later, on August 12, 2022, Arshad Nadeem earned another gold medal for Pakistan at the 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games, setting a new game record with a throw of 88.55 meters. In November 2022, he continued his winning streak by securing gold in the javelin throw with a toss of 81.21 meters at the 50th National Athletics Championship in Lahore. Elbow and knee injury (Late 2022)

On December 1, 2022, Arshad Nadeem travelled to the UK to receive treatment for his injured elbow and knee. The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) arranged for his treatment at Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital. After ten days of rehabilitation and physiotherapy, his full recovery took an additional four to six weeks.

Arshad Nadeem competed in the National Games of Pakistan, where he won a gold medal. However, during the event, he suffered a knee injury that prevented him from participating in the Asian Athletics Championships. AFP president Akram Sahi criticized WAPDA for forcing Nadeem to compete in the National Games despite his condition.

Silver Medal At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Nadeem won a silver medal with a throw of 87.82 meters, marking Pakistan’s first-ever medal at the World Athletics Championships. His performance also earned him a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

In July 2024, Nadeem competed in the Paris Diamond League, finishing in fourth place with a throw of 84.21 meters on his fifth attempt. The 2024 Paris Olympics marked a historic moment for Arshad Nadeem. He competed fiercely, and his performance in the javelin throw final was extraordinary. Nadeem achieved the highest throw of 92.97 meters, winning the gold medal and setting a new Olympic record. This victory was a significant milestone in his career and highlighted his remarkable skills in the sport.

Gold Medal and Olympic Record At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Arshad Nadeem made history as the first Pakistani to qualify for the final of any track and field event and to win an Olympic gold medal and runner up was Neeraj Chopra from India. He won the men’s javelin throw title and set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters in the final. The previous Olympic record was held by Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen, who threw 90.57 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Nadeem’s throw was the sixth-longest in history and marked the longest throw by any male javelin thrower in the current season. He also became only the fourth athlete to surpass the 90-meter mark twice in an Olympic final. This gold medal was Pakistan’s first Olympic medal in 32 years, with the last being won at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and its first Olympic gold since 1984. Before the 2024 Olympics, many critics considered Nadeem an underdog (someone who wasn’t likely to win the competition). The Tokyo 2020 Olympics marked Arshad Nadeem’s debut on the Olympic stage. He became the first Pakistani track and field athlete to qualify for the final, finishing fifth with a throw of 84.62 meters. His journey continued with a remarkable training stint in South Africa and impressive results at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games, where he won gold and set records.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Arshad Nadeem delivered a spectacular performance, winning gold with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters. This achievement not only solidified his place in history but also highlighted his dominance in the javelin throw. His success at the Paris Olympics was a significant moment for Pakistan, marking its first Olympic gold in athletics since 1984.

Arshad Nadeem’s journey from 2015 to the present day is a testament to his extraordinary perseverance and skill. Early successes in local and international javelin throw events, including notable performances at the South Asian Games and Asian Games, laid the foundation for his later achievements. Despite facing challenges such as injuries and limited support, Nadeem’s dedication led him to significant milestones, including his impressive performances at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Nadeem’s record-breaking javelin throw at the Paris Olympics was the culmination of years of hard work. His past achievements include impressive results at the World Athletics Championships and the Diamond League, where he showcased his consistent performance and competitive edge. His success in both the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 World Athletics Championships further solidified his reputation.

Nadeem’s career reached new heights at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he made history by winning gold with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters. This achievement not only marked Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medal in 40 years but also solidified Nadeem’s status as a world-class athlete. His journey reflects the spirit of overcoming adversity and achieving greatness on the global stage.