Pakistani javelin star Arshad Nadeem's record-setting triumph secures incredible award
Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan, who won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics with a throw of 93 meters and set an Olympic record, received a prize of 250 million Pakistani rupees, which is equivalent to CAD 1,2m. The average monthly salary in this Asian country is CAD 400.
The prize money of 150 million Pakistani rupees was awarded to him by the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and another 100 million rupees by Maryam Nawaz, the first female prime minister of Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab, where the champion hails from. Nawaz also visited the javelin thrower's hometown village in the Mian Channu district and met with his family.
The amount is not arbitrary, as Pakistan is currently home to over 250 million people.
Arshad Nadeem: Olympic record and millions for the Pakistani
The Pakistani outpaced world champion and Tokyo Olympian Neeraj Chopra from India (89 meters) and Grenada's Anderson Peters (88 meters) in Paris.
Nadeem also received a car with a special license plate "PAK 305," referencing the Olympic record. He will also be commemorated by the national post with a special stamp.
His coach Salman Iqbal Butt will have to settle for 5 million PKR (CAD 25,000).
The javelin thrower won the first gold medal for Pakistan in 40 years. In 1984, the Olympic championship was won by the field hockey team. The team was the last to stand on the podium before Paris, earning a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
