Arshad Nadeem's gold medal in men's javel throw event at the Paris Olympics 2024 has not only brought joy to millions of Pakistanis but has also left Chinese netizens in awe who have taken to social media to laud the athlete's impressive performance in the prestigious games.
Nadeem with his impressive 92.97 metres throw — a new world record — ended Pakistan's 40-year-long gold medal drought and was greeted with a hero's welcome upon his return to the country late Saturday night.
Social media platforms in Pakistan have been flooded with messages of admiration with people paying homage to the 27-year-old Olympian for making the nation proud.
Born and raised in a mud brick house in Mian Channu — an impoverished corner of rural Punjab and forced as a young man to train in local wheat fields with homemade javelins — Nadeem's journey has also captured the hearts of Chinese citizens who have termed him "Ba Tie" (Pakistani Iron Brother") on various social media platforms.
Chinese viewers took to social media to laud the athlete's impressive record-breaking throw which surpassed the previous record of 90.57-metre throw by Netherlands' Andreas Thorkildsen at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
"He has given wings to the javelin [...] incredible! He's a hero [...] congrats Iron Brother!" said an elated Chinese commentator, reported China Economic Net.
The Chinese netizens even went as far ahead as creating a tag "Nadeem surprises his coach's sunglasses off" on Weibo — Beijing's version of X — which amassed tens of millions of views.
"OMG the coach's reaction is adorable; he couldn’t believe his eyes!" said a user while referring to the reaction of Nadeem's coach to the athlete's massive throw.
It is to be noted that the javelin thrower's feat ended Pakistan's 32-year Olympic medal drought as the national hockey team clinched bronze at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
The country, since its Olympic debut at the London Games in 1948, has won a total of 11 medals and won its last gold medal in the Los Angeles Olympics 1984 courtesy of the men's field hockey team.
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