Pakistan etched its name in Olympic history at the Paris 2024 games, securing its first gold medal in 40 years. The nation’s triumph came through the incredible performance of Arshad Nadeem, who clinched the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw. Not only did Nadeem break the Olympic record in the process, but he also became Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medalist since 1984.
This historic win marked a significant moment for Pakistani sports, as it was their first Olympic gold since their hockey team’s victory in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Nadeem’s achievement propelled Pakistan to a 62nd place finish in the overall medal tally, a testament to the value placed on gold medals in the ranking system. This remarkable feat also saw Pakistan finish ahead of India, despite India winning six medals in the games.
It’s worth noting that India finished 71st in the overall standings, highlighting the importance of gold medals in the ranking. The last time Pakistan finished above India in the Olympics was in 1992, in Barcelona. During that Games, India failed to secure a single medal, while Pakistan earned a bronze medal in men’s hockey, resulting in a joint 54th place finish in the medals table.