Neeraj Chopra is no stranger to making history, but on June 24, 2025, at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czechia, the two-time Olympic medalist added a deeply personal chapter to his growing legacy. Winning gold with a best effort of 85.29 m, Neeraj didn’t just top the leaderboard; he fulfilled a childhood dream that had lingered in his heart for years.
“I used to watch this meeting a lot as a kid,” Neeraj said, speaking to the press after the event. “I watched people like Jan Zelezny and Usain Bolt winning the Golden Spike, and I dreamt of winning one as well. Now that dream has come true.”
A Long-Awaited Debut
While Neeraj had long desired to compete at this storied event, first held in 1961 and one of the most prestigious meets outside the Diamond League, fate had other plans in 2023 and 2024. Injuries forced him to withdraw both years, though he attended as a guest in 2024. Finally, in 2025, everything aligned. And in front of a roaring Ostrava crowd, Neeraj not only made his debut but also conquered the field.
His winning throw of 85.29 m came in the third round, following an initial foul and an 83.45 m attempt. He followed it up with consistent efforts of 82.17 m and 81.01 m and ended with another foul, having deliberately stepped over the line after sensing his final throw wouldn’t surpass his best.
Even though the distance was short of his personal best of 90.23 m, set earlier this season at the Doha Diamond League, Neeraj’s performance was more than enough to secure gold. South Africa’s Douw Smit impressed with a personal best of 84.12 m for silver, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters, a former world champion, took bronze with 83.63 m.
A Win Laden with Emotion
What made this victory even more special was the presence of Neeraj’s coach, the legendary Jan Zelezny, who still holds the Golden Spike meet record with a monstrous 94.64 m throw from 1996. Zelezny not only coached Neeraj from the stands but is also involved in organizing the meet. For Neeraj, winning on this particular stage, under the watchful eye of his idol-turned-mentor, made the triumph all the more poignant.
“The amount of support we were getting from the crowd was crazy,” Neeraj said. “I just wish I could have performed better for them.”
Despite a visible hint of disappointment after his final attempt suggesting he had aimed for something even greater, the Indian ace couldn’t hide his joy when holding the Golden Spike trophy. It wasn’t just a medal; it was the embodiment of a long-cherished vision from his youth.
A Season of Purpose
This win in Ostrava is Neeraj Chopra’s second consecutive podium finish, following his gold medal at the Paris Diamond League just days earlier on June 20. Though he finished second in Doha last May even after his nation-record throw, the path of his 2025 season says everything about his concentration and fitness.
At only 27, Neeraj keeps raising the bar not only in terms of performance but also in terms of consistency. He is more than an athlete now; he is a role model for a generation, changing what’s possible for Indian sport at an international level.
Next Stop: Home Turf, Bigger Dreams
With Ostrava taken care of, Neeraj’s next test is as thrilling and historic as the NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5. The event is set to be India’s first major international javelin competition and carries his name, a testament to his status in the sport. He will line up against formidable rivals, including Rio 2016 gold medalist Thomas Rohler and Anderson Peters, once again.
The NC Classic isn’t just another meet; it’s a celebration of javelin in a country that’s slowly but surely falling in love with the sport, largely thanks to Neeraj. It will also be an emotional return home after a series of international successes.
More Than a Medal
At its essence, Neeraj’s Golden Spike victory is about something greater than simply digits on the scoreboard. It’s about desire, determination, and the subtle strength of dreams born in childhood and endured through trials of time, defeats, and expectations.
He might have yearned for a longer throw, but what Neeraj Chopra did in Ostrava was much more: a dream realized under the limelight, supported by fans, motivated by legends, and carved in the history of world athletics.
From being a wide-eyed boy watching Jan Zelezny and Usain Bolt on the TV to standing tall on the same platform with the gold medal around his neck, the journey of Neeraj has come full circle. And yet, given his work ethic, it’s sure that this is not the destination. This is just another milestone on a journey that has a lot more legendary moments in store.
In the champion’s own words, “I’m very happy with the trophy.” And so is the country and the world observing him ascend.
