Arshad Nadeem, who made history by winning Pakistan’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medal, has been named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list for 2024.
The 28-year-old javelin star surprised the world at the Paris Olympics with a record-breaking 92.97m throw, a performance Forbes called a “stunning show.”
His win not only shattered the Olympic record but also ended a three-decade medal drought for Pakistan.
The Forbes list, published last month, highlights rising stars in sports and entertainment across the continent. Nadeem’s name was officially confirmed in the spotlighted group on Monday.
His golden throw didn’t just earn him global recognition — he was also awarded over Rs153 million in prize money by the Punjab and Sindh governments, along with other rewards from various public and private organisations.
The government honoured Nadeem by naming a road in Islamabad after him, and Pakistan Post released a special stamp on Independence Day to celebrate his achievements.
Just last month, Nadeem proved his dominance once again by winning gold at the Asian Athletics Championships with a throw of 86.40 metres, just shy of the meet record. It was Pakistan’s first gold at the event in over 50 years.
His consistent performance throughout the event, capped by this remarkable throw, secured him the top spot on the podium.
The top Pakistani javelin thrower also secured a gold at the Asian Athletics Championships final.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated the athlete on the splendid victory as he continues to make the nation proud.
Nadeem’s hometown, Mian Channu, erupted in celebrations as news of his victory spread, bringing tears of joy and cheers from proud supporters.
Nadeem first shot to fame with his gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and he followed it up with a silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
So far, he has won four golds, one silver, and four bronze medals in various events, including the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, South Asian Games, and Asian U20 Championships.
Now, he’s heading to England to train for the World Athletics Championships in September, the only big competition where he hasn’t struck gold yet.
