Arshad Nadeem has made history by breaking the Olympic record with an incredible 92.97m throw in the men’s javelin final at the Paris Olympics 2024. This remarkable feat ranks as the sixth-longest javelin throw of all time.
India’s Neeraj Chopra is currently in second place with an 89.45m throw, while Jakub Vadlejch of Czechia holds third with an 88.50m throw. Grenada’s Anderson Peters follows closely in fourth place with a throw of 87.87m.
The final saw some early setbacks, with Nadeem, Chopra, and Germany’s Julian Weber all recording foul throws on their first attempts. Chopra also had a foul on his third attempt.
This historic day for Pakistan marks exactly 32 years since the country last won an Olympic medal when the hockey team secured bronze in Barcelona in 1992. Nadeem, now a two-time Olympian, entered the final with confidence after a solid 86.59m throw in the qualifiers. He attributed his success to the prayers and support of his nation.
The final has set the stage for a thrilling competition. Reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who is on track to defend his title with a massive 89.34m throw, will renew his rivalry with Nadeem. The two last competed against each other at the 2023 World Athletics Championship, where they both made history for South Asia. Despite injuries and surgery keeping Nadeem off the field for much of the past year, he has a knack for delivering when it counts, especially in August, and he’ll be aiming to do so again tonight.
Among the contenders, Anderson Peters of Grenada boasts the highest personal best (PB) in the field with a 93.07m throw recorded at the Doha Diamond League in 2022. While he hasn’t replicated that throw since, his season-best throw of 88.63m in the heats places him as a strong medal contender.
Germany’s Julian Weber, who narrowly missed out on a podium finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will be eager to make his mark. His 87.76m throw in the qualifiers ranks him as the third seed and the world’s number three, just behind Chopra.
World number one Jakub Vadlejch of Czechia is also in the hunt for gold, aiming to add to the silver medal he won at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The reigning European champion, with a seed throw of 87.76m, is positioned as a top contender in the final.
Kenya’s Julius Yego, the Rio 2016 silver medallist, has had a season of mixed performances but managed to secure a spot in the final with an 85.97m throw. Yego’s personal best of 92.72m remains the African record, making him a potential surprise in tonight’s competition.
Among the finalists, only three athletes have previously won an Olympic medal: Yego, Vadlejch, and Chopra. Additionally, five of the finalists have surpassed the 90m mark in their careers, including Peters (93.07m), Yego (92.72m), Vadlejch (90.88m), Nadeem (90.18m), and Keshorn Wolcott (90.16m) of Trinidad and Tobago.
While Chopra has yet to join the exclusive 90m club, his impressive record of winning all five major athletic titles—Olympic, World, Commonwealth, Asian, and Diamond League—suggests he remains a formidable competitor. The stage is set for a dramatic showdown in the javelin final, with Nadeem’s record-breaking throw adding to the excitement.
About The Author
