Arshad Nadeem: Son of construction worker, struggled to buy javelins, repays village with Olympic gold

Arshad Nadeem won Pakistan’s first individual gold medal at an Olympics on Thursday when he sent the javelin hurling a spectacular 92.97 meters. It became the biggest throw in Olympic history and sixth highest overall. It was also enough for Nadeem to take spot and retain it for the rest of the competition to win the yellow metal - ahead of Neeraj Chopra.

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From a seven member Pakistan contingent for Paris 2024, only Nadeem progressed to the final. As he progressed to the medal round for a second successive Olympics, there was a celebration at home where his parents, brothers, wife, two children, and fellow villagers raised slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.

“If my son can bring home an Olympic medal for Pakistan it would be the proudest moment for us and everyone in this village,” his father had said.

Nadeem’s story is worth celebrating for how he came up the ranks and continued to compete professionally despite lack of resources and facilities.

When he took up javelin, Nadeem reportedly did not have enough money. As per his father, Muhammad Ashraf, his village members pitched in money so he could train.

“We have seen days when I would earn 300-400 rupees a day and had to support nine beings at home. But we made sure that Arshad and his siblings got milk and ghee,” his uncle had said.

“People have no idea how Arshad got to this place today. How his fellow villagers and relatives used to donate money so that he could travel to other cities for his training and events in his early days,” his father Muhammad Ashraf revealed to news agency PTI.

Scenes from Arshad Nadeems' village in 📍Mian Channu, Punjab 🇵🇰
Full Desi Punjabi Mahol guy is saying "Dhol wala kithy way?" pic.twitter.com/7GjcqHno4c

Hailing from Khanewal village in Pakistan’s Punjab region, Nadeem was the only athlete to be financed by the country’s national sports body in sending them to Paris 2024. And, the 27-year-old repaid that faith with a medal.

But the beginnings were not easy. Third of seven siblings, son of a construction worker, Nadeem and family would get to eat meat once a year, during Eid-al-Adha, since there was a single bread winner in the family.

In his early years, Arshad played tape-ball cricket before taking up javelin. His uncle ensured he had a rich diet in milk and ghee, even during tough times.

Nadeem’s journey also finds mention of Neeraj Chopra - for going above and beyond the neighbourly and sporting rivalry.

At times of injuries, Arshad would spend time at home studying javelin techniques and often watched videos of Neeraj Chopra for inspiration.

“When he was at home during the injury, he would talk about javelin and the similarities between tent pegging and javelin. He would tell us that it’s as precise as tent pegging and the right angle and velocity have to be achieved in javelin too,” his uncle Ashraf had told reporters last year.

A few months back when Arshad appealed to replace his old javelin with a new one for his training, Chopra supported Nadeem’s case on social media.

Despite struggling with elbow, knee, and back problems and being hit by lack of top facilities and equipment, Nadeem has made a mark in a country where cricket is by far the biggest sport.

Arshad Nadeem’s achievements at Paris Olympics:

• He won Pakistan’s first Olympic gold in 40 years

• Nadeem’s throw was Pakistan’s first individual gold medal, first track and field medal.

• It is the second time a South Asian has had a podium finish in track and field.

• It shattered the previous Olympic record of 90.57m, set by the Netherlands’ Andreas Thorkildsen at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

• The throw now stands as the sixth longest throw ever, and the best in the world this year.