Javelin Throw, Men

Neeraj Chopra (IND) was the defending gold medalist and the 2023 World Champion. At the 2023 Worlds, he was challenged by Pakistani Arshad Nadeem and they were expected to battle for gold here, with Julian Weber (GER), the 2022 European Champion, and Jakub Vadlejch (CZE), the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, also looking for the podium.

Both Chopra and Nadeem opened with fouls, as the 2021 gold medalist Keshorn Walcott (TTO) took the early lead with 86.16 metres. That would be his best throw and he would finish seventh.

In round two, two-time World Champion Anderson Peters (GRN) posted 87.87 to move into the lead. Nadeem then blasted an Asian record personal best of 92.97 m (305 feet) to move into first, which would bring him the gold medal.

Chopra responded with 89.45 in round two, his second-best performance ever. He would not improve that mark, but it would be good for the silver medal. In round three, Vadlejch threw 88.50 to move into third place. Peters, however, responded with 88.54 m in round four to move ahead of Vadlejch and that would get him the bronze medal.

Both Nadeem and Peters gave their nations their first medals in the men’s javelin throw. For Pakistan, it was their first athletics medal of any color and their first individual gold medal in any sport. For Grenada, Peters became their third Olympic medalist, all in athletics, after a set of medals by Kirani James in the men’s 400 metres from 2012-20, and a bronze medal earlier in Paris by Lindon Toussaint-Victor in the decathlon.

The javelin throw was formerly the province of Finland, Germany, and Eastern European countries. Few could ever have foreseen an Olympic podium from Pakistan, India, and Grenada.