The time for the Colonial dominance in sports is finally over. And the javelin finals at the Paris Olympics was a perfect representation of the same. Pakistan, India and Grenada stood on the podium while the likes of European powerhouses like Germany were not on the scene.
Interestingly, for the first time in 116 years which is 27 editions of the Olympics, no European country is placed on the podium. Javelin, once considered as the safest best for the European masters saw their chances dwindling down against two South Asian countries.
End of European Supremacy
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem and India’s Neeraj Chopra were the stars of the show and were tipped for the coveted gold even before the start of the Paris Olympics. It was assumed that either of the duo will take the top 2 places but Jakub Vadlejch or Julian Weber would take the third spot.
But that was not the case to be. In fact with a throw of 88.54 Anderson Peters of Gernada took the third spot. The Europeans didn’t have any chance to be frank. Arshad Nadeem shattered the Olympic record twice with his 92.97 and 91.79 m throws.
Neeraj Chopra had foul throw 5 times, but the only throw that mattered from him, earned him the silver medal. His second throw of 89.45 m was enough to clinch the second spot. With the Europeans finishing at 4th spot and onwards, it is a clear hint that in the coming days, the supremacy of Europeans in Javelin has diminished and it is the Asian and Caribbean sides who are making great strides.
