Athletics
Neeraj's Paris Olympics T-shirt inducted into World Athletics' heritage collection
Neeraj donated the t-shirt that he wore at the Paris Olympics 2024 men's javelin throw final this year to World Athletics' heritage collection.
Neeraj Chopra's second Olympic medal - a silver - in Paris made javelin throw the most sought after sports among the Indians. (Photo credit: Paris Olympics)
Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra's Paris Olympics 2024 competition artefacts have been inducted into the World Athletics Heritage Collection, currently on display in the online 3D platform of the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA).
Neeraj is among the 23 athletes whose competition artefacts have been inducted by the WAHC.
The 26-year-old became India's first-ever Olympic gold medallist in athletics at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Three years later at the Paris Olympics, Neeraj won a silver medal for his throw of 89.45m. He finished behind Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who created an Olympic record with a 92.97m effort.
He donated the t-shirt that he wore at the Paris Olympics this year.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe lauded the athletes for donating their competition gear and medals.
"Keeping our Olympic collection up to date, we are proud to be announcing donations from a trio of Paris 2024 medallists: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (high jump), Thea LaFond (triple jump) and Neeraj Chopra. Thank you to the athletes who have so kindly donated their competition clothing, shoes and even medals to our museum's collection in 2024," said Coe in a statement.
The Museum of World Athletics received historic Olympic-winning items from Wyomia Tyus and Billy Mills, 1980 Olympic 100m champion Allan Wells, and the 2000 and 2008 Olympic heptathlon gold medallists Denise Lewis and Nataliia Dobrynska, respectively.
“With world record setting shoes and singlets from Filbert Bayi (middle-distance runner), David Rudisha (middle-distance) and Devynne Charlton (hurdler) also among this year's inductions, it is worth reminding ourselves that there would be no collection, no Museum of World Athletics, without the athletes selflessly supporting our heritage programme. Thank you for your generosity," added Coe.
