Paris 2024 athletics: All results, as Arshad Nadeem wins gold in men’s javelin throw, setting new Olympic record
It was a record-breaking night at the Stade de France in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s javelin throw final as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record throw of 92.97m, dominating the field to earn gold - his first Olympic medal. This win marks Pakistan’s first Olympic gold medal in athletics.
India’s Neeraj Chopra, the Tokyo 2020 defending gold medallist, threw a season’s best 89.45 to earn silver. Grenada’s Anderson Peters threw 88.54 to take bronze.
Nadeem is no stranger to making Olympic history, at Tokyo 2020 he was the first Pakistani athlete to qualify for an Olympic athletics final, eventually finishing fifth. At Paris 2024 he has added another page, competing with the support of an Olympic Solidarity scholarship.
Hard work pays off for Arshad Nadeem
Nadeem won with his second throw of 92.97m, setting a new Olympic record, the only athlete to break into the 90s, not just once, but twice, finishing with a dominant 91.79m - the top two scores of the day.
India’s Chopra threw his best distance on his second attempt, a season’s best 89.45, but he was unable to break into the 90s to continue his reign as the Olympic champion.
This is the second Olympic Games for Nadeem, who finished fifth at Tokyo 2020, making history then as the first Pakistan athlete to qualify for a final in track and field.
Nadeem came to these Olympics already an icon after being bestowed with the prestige of Pakistani flagbearer. He has only added to his legendary status now as Pakistan’s first-ever track-and-field athlete to finish on the Olympic podium, and to earn a gold medal.
In comparing his finish today to that of three years ago, Nadeem said: “I was fit enough to do well in Tokyo, but I could not perform well at the time. After the Olympics, I worked hard and won the gold at the Commonwealth Games.
"And after that, I even tried harder to maintain my rhythm. And today, I won the gold for the country.”
Nadeem will also get a hero’s welcome in Pakistan, not only for his historic first athletics medal, but also for winning the gold ahead of Neeraj, saying: “The rivalry was there, no doubt about that. People in each country were eager to see us both throw the javelin and beat each other. I am very happy to see Neeraj win the silver medal.”
Nadeem was pleased with his Olympic record performance, adding: “I was expecting and hoping to even go further but ultimately I am content with 92.97m as it allowed me to win the gold. But I will continue working harder to extend this throw to over 95m.”
Chopra shared that he hadn't been able to train as hard as he would have liked to due to a groin injury, saying: “I’m not that happy with my performance today and also my technique and runway was not that good. Only one throw, the rest I fouled. But last two, three years was not so good. I’m always injured. I really tried hard, but I have to do some more work on my injury and technique.”
After missing out on the final at Tokyo 2020, Peters was thrilled about winning his first Olympic medal for Grenada, saying: “Finally! I’ve been dreaming about this since I saw Keshorn [Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago] win gold at London 2012. From that moment I decided I was going to work my hardest to get an Olympic medal.
“Everybody has been supporting me. The entire population, 120,000 people are glued to their TV right now. Celebrating, cheering.”
Athletics: Men’s javelin throw podium
Gold Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan
Silver Neeraj Chopra, India
Bronze Anderson Peters, Grenada
See all the results on Olympics.com