Who Is Arshad Nadeem, The Olympic Record Holder Who Secured Gold with a 92.97m Javelin Throw at Paris 2024?

Arshad Nadeem is a Pakistani javelin thrower, currently serving as the reigning Olympic champion in Men’s javelin throw with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, he made history by winning the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw with an Olympic record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters.

This accomplishment cemented his status as a two-time Olympian and the first Pakistani to reach the final in any track and field event at both the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships.

Early Life, and Education

Arshad Nadeem was born on January 2, 1997, Mian Channu, Pakistan. Arshad Nadeem is 27 years old as of 2024. Arshad Nadeem was born into a large Punjabi family in Mian Channu, Punjab, Pakistan. He is the third of eight siblings and showed a strong interest in sports from a young age.

During his school years, Arshad was involved in various sports, including cricket, badminton, football, and athletics. Though cricket was his first love, playing at district-level tape-ball tournaments, his path changed when he caught the attention of Rasheed Ahmad Saqi, a well-known sports developer in his region, who recognized Arshad’s potential in athletics.

Before focusing on javelin throw, Arshad explored other track and field events like shot put and discus throw. His early successes in javelin throw at the Punjab Youth Festivals and an inter-board meet led to opportunities with top domestic athletic teams in Pakistan, such as Army, Air Force, and WAPDA. It was with his father Muhammad Ashraf’s encouragement that Arshad decided to pursue a career in javelin throw.

Career, Personal Bests, and Olympic Record

Arshad Nadeem began competing in javelin throw events in 2015 and quickly made a name for himself. In 2016, he earned a scholarship from World Athletics, which allowed him to train at the IAAF High Performance Training Centre in Mauritius. That same year, he won a bronze medal at the South Asian Games in Guwahati, India, setting a national record with a personal best throw of 78.33 meters.

Over the next few years, Arshad continued to improve, winning several medals and setting new personal bests. In 2018, he claimed a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta with a throw of 80.75 meters, setting a new personal best and national record. By 2019, he had broken the 80-meter mark multiple times and became the only Pakistani athlete to compete at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, where he achieved a new personal best of 81.52 meters.

Arshad’s rise to global prominence continued at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, held in 2021 due to the pandemic. He became the first Pakistani track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympics, despite training in less-than-ideal conditions. He made it to the finals and finished fifth with a throw of 84.62 meters, marking a significant milestone in his career.

In 2022, Arshad set a new national and Commonwealth Games record with a throw of 90.18 meters, becoming the first South Asian to surpass the 90-meter mark. He followed this with another gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games, setting a games record of 88.55 meters.

Arshad continued to shine in 2023, winning a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest with a throw of 87.82 meters, the first-ever World Athletics Championships medal for Pakistan. This victory also secured his qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he would make history.

At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Arshad Nadeem achieved a remarkable feat by winning the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw, setting a new Olympic record of 92.97 meters. This throw not only earned him the top spot on the podium but also placed him among the top javelin throwers in history, with the sixth-longest throw ever recorded.

Family, Personal Life, and Facts: Parents, Family, Wife, Children, and Height

Arshad Nadeem is a devout Muslim, married with two children—a daughter and a son. Known for his quiet and focused demeanor, he is described by his coach, Salman Iqbal Butt, as a respectful and disciplined athlete.

His coach has praised Arshad’s calm and determined nature, noting that he remains undeterred by setbacks and is always ready to push forward. Arshad Nadeem stands tall at a height of 1.92 m (6 feet 4 inches). He weighs 95 kg (209 lb).

Net Worth

Arshad Nadeem has a net worth estimated to be approximately $2 million.