The World Athletics Museum has welcomed Neeraj Chopra’s Paris Olympics Shirt

The shirt worn by Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris has been added to the Museum of World Athletics’ (MOWA) collection.

Chopra is one of 23 sportsmen whose artefacts have been entered into this esteemed collection, and the shirt is currently on show on MOWA’s online 3D platform.

Thea LaFond, a medallist at the Paris Olympics, and Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine are two other prominent athletes whose competition artefacts have been entered.

Chopra’s significant contribution to athletics

Chopra’s incredible 89.45-meter throw earned him a silver medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan outperformed him, breaking the record with a throw of 92.97 meters.

Chopra had previously won India’s first Olympic gold in athletics at the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Games, therefore his contribution to athletics is indisputable.

The president of World Athletics recognises the contributions made by athletes.

Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, expressed gratitude to the athletes for their services.

“Thank you to the athletes who have so kindly donated their competition clothing, shoes and even medals to our museum’s collection in 2024,” explained Coe.

He stressed that the contributions are essential to maintaining the Olympic collection’s relevance and currency.

Historic items from past Olympic champions

Historic artefacts belonging to former Olympic winners, such as Allan Wells from 1980 and Wyomia Tyus and Billy Mills from the 1960s, are also part of the MOWA collection.

Olympic heptathlon gold medallists Denise Lewis and Nataliia Dobrynska, who won gold in 2000 and 2008, respectively, also made contributions.

“There would be no collection, no Museum of World Athletics, without the athletes selflessly supporting our heritage program,” Coe explained, emphasising the importance of these donations to MOWA’s heritage program.