World champion of the 800 m freestyle and silver medalist in 400 m freestyle, Ayoub Hafnaoui won his third medal of the World Swimming Championships 2023. He even seized the record for the competition on 1500 m freestyle. One year before the 2024 Paris Olympics, our champion, who now trains with the University of Indiana in the United States, will undoubtedly be the swimmer to beat.
Faten Ghattas: “an excellent margin of progression”
“The performance achieved by Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui at Japan Worlds is a historic feat. Personally, I did not expect it at all, although he was a world champion, because he spent a slightly hard year, busy preparing his baccalaureate and his entry to American university.
In addition, the performance during competitions varies and success depends on seconds and fractions of seconds. Thank God, our champion excelled by winning two gold medals and a silver medal in front of major opponents such as the double Olympic champion Robert Finke and the Australian Samuel Short and, please, icing on the cake, he broke the record for the competition of the 1500 m freestyle. We can therefore only express a great respect to this young 20 -year -old swimmer who honored all Tunisians, because he allowed Tunisia to rank 7th in this international game when we know that other countries participate with a dozen swimmers.
The margin of progress of Hafnaoui is excellent, it is a serious, very disciplined, hardworking and courageous sportsman who makes us count on him at the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024, in any case I personally trust this young champion. »»
Maher MRAYEH (Director General of Sport): “This objective contract goes in the right direction”
“The results obtained by Ayoub Hafnaoui, during the Japan World Championship, are excellent given his age. This success is a continuation of the gold medal of the Tokyo Olympic Games (he was the youngest Arab sportsman to have won a gold medal). For us, this consecration is the fruit of collaboration between the Ministry of Sports and the Sportsman, at first, and other parties such as the CNOT and the Swimming Federation.
I would like to point out that Hafnaoui’s transition to American University is beneficial since he has become more focused on his work with his coach. Regarding the ministry, what binds us to the sportsman is a contract with objectives intended for the sporting elite with a logistical side concerning its preparation. This objective contract goes in the right direction. And we are in the process of reviewing this contract to allow our champion to move forward to stay at the top and win other medals in the next deadlines, especially during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
It should be noted that the sponsorship file will allow it to participate in several internships and meetings and work in very good conditions. We mainly count during the next “deadlines to prepare our champion on the mental level, especially since the competition will be tough, this is why we have deemed to have him accompanied by a mental trainer so that he can keep a psychological balance which will allow him to stay at the top. »»
Houda Jrad (Federal Member and Treasurer of the FTN): “Proud of our champion”
“I am very happy and honored by our Olympic and global champion who has proven that despite the limited means and derisory conditions of our country, we can succeed. He allowed everyone to dream. Ayoub Hafnaoui worked very hard, for a moment sacrificed his studies to win at 18 years old the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. By settling in in the USA, he perfected his work, progressed and the 2 gold medals and one of money won are proof of this.
We can say that he is on the right track and that the FTN is always by his side to support him to achieve his goals especially at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. When we see the Tunisian flag climbing higher than the American and Australian flags, we can only be proud of our champion. »»
Mehdi Agili (former African champion): “He leaves favorite for Paris 2024”
“As a swimmer, and Tunisian, I would like to say that I am proud of the feat achieved by my little brother Ayoub Hafnaoui, and that I congratulate him from the bottom of my heart. Regarding the race, our champion narrowly missed gold at the 400m, but resumed by applying perfectly to the 800m and 1500m. It is a very good performance to be a double world champion and world vice-champion with an extraordinary time that few swimmers could achieve. What is certain is that the margin of progression of Ayoub is excellent and that it leaves favorite for the Olympic Games of Paris 2024 to become, I hope to triple world champion. »»
Fayçal Smati
