Arshad Nadeem, first Pakistani individual gold medalist, returns home a hero
Arshad Nadeem took the top spot in javelin last week in the Paris Games, becoming the first Pakistani to win an individual gold medal in the country’s history.
After Pakistani javelin athlete Arshad Nadeem hurtled his way into the Olympic history books, his country threw him welcome celebrations fit for a king.
Arshad Nadeem, 27, took the top spot in javelin last week in the Paris Games, becoming the first Pakistani to win an individual gold medal in the country’s history. Thousands of supporters showed up at the airport for the return of the athlete, who once trained with javelins he fashioned out of eucalyptus branches. On Sunday, he was greeted in Lahore with a water cannon salute and was adorned with garlands, Reuters reported.
Arshad Nadeem with his mother Raziah Parveen upon his arrival at his hometown in Mian Channu, Pakistan on Aug. 11, 2024. AFP - Getty ImagesNadeem reunited with his family members before boarding a double-decker bus escorted by police, The Express Tribune reported. He eventually arrived at his rural village of Mian Channu, where proud friends, neighbors and fans had watched his performance from a projector set up on the back of a truck. A sports facility is slated to be built and named after the gold medalist in his hometown, according to the Olympics website.
“I want to thank the entire nation, especially Mian Channu, for showing me so much love,” he told the crowd.
Nadeem beat out defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India by throwing a new Olympic record of 92.97 meters. Nadeem’s was Pakistan’s first gold medal since its field hockey team took the top spot at the 1984 games in Los Angeles, and its only medal in 32 years since field hockey nabbed bronze in 1992 at the Barcelona Games.
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