The Arab world got the first hero of the Tokyo Olympics as Ahmed Hafnaoui, an 18 year old from Tunisia, pulled a shocker by winning the men’s 400-meter freestyle, after getting the slowest qualifying time in the semifinals a day earlier.
“I was surprised myself. It’s unbelievable. I just can’t believe it,” said Hafnaoui.
“I just can’t believe that, it’s amazing. I felt better in the water this morning than yesterday and that’s it. I’m the Olympic champion now,” he continued.
“I just put my head in the water and that’s it. I just can’t believe it. It’s a dream come true.”
Hafnaoui won the gold medal with a time of 3:43.36, 0.16 seconds ahead of Jack McLoughlin from Australia.
Hafnaoui didn’t seem like he expected to win beyond just his words—he didn’t even wear a track uniform as is the custom on the podium, wearing the gold medal in a t-shirt and shorts as the Tunisian flag was raised with the anthem playing over the loud speakers.
It’s the fifth gold medal in Tunisian history. He’s the second Tunisian swimmer to win gold, with Oussama Mellouli having won previously.
“He’s a legend. I wish to be like him someday,” Hafnaoui said of Mellouli. “I was in tears. When I see the flag of my country, and I hear the anthem in the background, it was great. I’m so proud of it.”
So who is Hafnaoui? As of writing this, Hafnaoui has 10k followers on his Instagram and only one picture posted, one of him getting ready for the race he would unexpectedly win.
You can follow him here:
Hafnaoui has been swimming since he was 6. His father, who was a member of the Tunisian men’s national team, signed him up for swimming. He previously competed in the Youth Olympic Games in 2018, placing eighth.
His plan next is to go to the United States to swim collegiately, though he doesn’t know which school he will attend.
“I just want to get better,” he said.
“I saw the Australian guy from Lane 6. It was a great fight in the end,” Hafnaoui said. “I believed when I touched the wall and I saw. I was so surprised. I didn’t expect that.”
