Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower, expressed his disappointment over negative comments on social media following his performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Nadeem, who achieved a historic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 metres, attributed his subpar performance in Glasgow to the extreme cold weather. He explained that the conditions left his body stiff and cramped, hindering his ability to generate the necessary momentum for his throws.
Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has said it hurt him to read heartless comments on social media after his disappointing performance at the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
Nadeem failed to qualify for the top eight after the preliminary rounds. Nadeem stressed that success had neither made him arrogant nor changed his outlook despite the fame and financial rewards that followed his Olympic triumph. “My parents have brought me up to remain grounded and never forget my roots. “I believe that it is my job to put in all the hard work and commitment but at the end of the day it is up to Allah what he has planned for me. I can try to give my best.
Because of money or fame,” he said, i am not arrogant. Because of the unusually cold conditions, resulting in numerous foul throws, he pointed out that several athletes in the final also struggled. Because i know I can do much better,” he said, i have reconciled with the Commonwealth Games performance.
At the recently concluded 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Nadeem finished ninth in the men’s javelin final with a best throw of 77.41 metres, failing to defend the gold medal from Birmingham 2022 with a then Games record throw of 90.18 metres. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the gold medal with a throw of 89.75 metres, while India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively, marking the first time two Indian athletes shared the Commonwealth Games javelin podium. Nadeem will next compete at the Athletissima (Laussane Diamond League) on August 21 featuring the world’s leading javelin throwers including Chopra and Pathirage.
“I don’t want to offer excuses for what happened, but those making hurtful and disrespectful comments about me should realise that I am a son of the soil and have brought medals for this country in the past,” he said. “It becomes very difficult for a Javelin Thrower to keep his body muscles and rhythm consistent and fluid during the throws because of the cold,” he added. Nadeem said he always needed the support of his countrymen and was confident of returning to winning form soon.
