Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem’s “inspirational journey” from humble beginnings to achieving greatness emphasised the importance of hard work and determination, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir said on Friday.

The army chief said this at a ceremony hosted at the army auditorium, GHQ for the Olympian, according to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations.

Nadeem made history at the 2024 Paris Games, shattering the javelin throw Olympic record with a stunning throw of 92.97 metres. This momentous achievement has filled the hearts of all Pakistanis with immense pride.

It is a major feat not just for Nadeem, but for the South Asian nation which won their last Olympic medal 32 years ago.

Before Nadeem’s remarkable victory, Pakistan had never won an individual gold medal at the Olympics.

All of Pakistan’s previous three gold medals came in field hockey, with their team winning gold in 1960, 1968 and 1984.

He received a rousing welcome upon landing at the Lahore airport in the wee hours of Sunday. His flight was given a water cannon salute upon its arrival.

On the eve of Independence Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a state banquet for Nadeem where he announced a reward of Rs150 million from the federal government for the Olympian, naming a street between the F9 and F10 after him, and establishing an Arshad Nadeem High Performance Academy at Jinnah Sports Stadium.

COAS Munir appreciated Nadeem’s remarkable achievement of winning Pakistan“‘s first-ever gold medal in a singles’ event and setting a new Olympic record, attributing it to his “commitment, perseverance, and passion for excellence.”

The army chief recognised the javelin thrower’s achievement as a “national pride” and highlighted that he has been honoured by the complete nation befitting his achievement.

COAS Munir reaffirmed the commitment to support and empower not only sportsmen, but the entire wealth of Pakistani youth to achieve excellence towards a prosperous Pakistan. He stressed the need for youth engagement, development and entertainment as “essential cardinals of a healthy and prosperous society.”

Nadeem expressed gratitude and emphasised the immense potential of Pakistani youth, stressing the “importance of hard work, positivity, and perseverance in overcoming challenges and achieving success.”

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Sports teams and legendary Olympians, including 1984 Olympic and national hockey teams, cricket team, street football team, army polo team, visually impaired cricket and women’s goal ball teams, medal winners of Commonwealth, SAF and Asian Games and participants of Paris Olympics 2024, attended the event.

Notable legends including Jehangir Khan, Islahuddin, Shahbaz Senior, Sohail Abbas, Muhammad Asif and Aisamul Haq were also in attendance. Nadeem’s close relatives, associates and coaches were also present.

The 27-year-old athlete from a village near Mian Channu has vowed to make a new world record. “I will train fully for all upcoming competitions and my next goal is … I will make the world record,” he said earlier this week.