Exactly two years ago, just before the Tokyo Olympic Games, Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui, then 18, was still little known. It was on July 25, 2021 that this young swimmer entered the story for the first time by winning the final of the 400m free swim in Tokyo to the general surprise.
The young swimmer, a specialist in long distances, had completed the race in 3 min 43 sec 36 hundredths, third best chrono of the year, styling in the last length the Australian Jack McLoughlin.
Ahmed Hafnaoui thus became the second Tunisian to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming after the exploits of Osama Mellouli.
Since then it’s raid! Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui continues to climb the ladder and what he has accomplished in the past two years with the added bonus, three medals including two in gold and two titles of world champion during the swimming worlds, which take place in Fukuoka in Japan, is simply incredible.
Champion’s journey
One year from the Paris Olympic Games, Hafnaoui, won the Grail. It all started on July 23 when our swimming champion won the silver medal of the 400m freestyle in Fukuoka.
Ayoub Hafnaoui finished his race with a delay of 2 hundredths of a second on the Australian Samuel Short, with a time of 3 minutes, 40 seconds and 70 hundredths, this winning the race and the gold medal.
Tuesday, July 25, Ayoub Hafnaoui qualified in the final of the 800 meter freestyle with a time of 7 minutes 14 seconds and 97 hundredths, arriving second in his group behind the Australian Short.
The next day, during the final of the 800 meter freestyle, Ayoub Hafnaoui, changed its rhythm and splashes all the present by its talent by dominating the race. He won the gold medal handles highly by finishing the race in mind after having made a time of 7 minutes 37 seconds and 00 hundredths, ahead of the Australian S. Short (400m world champion) and the American B. Finke.
The apotheosis!
The world’s neo-champion does not want to stop there! Last Saturday, the swimmer qualified for the final of the 1500 meter freestyle by winning his series and by making his best time in 14 minutes 49 seconds and 53 hundredths.
Yesterday, during the final, Ayoub Hafnaoui was stratospheric by winning the final of the 1500 meter freestyle of these 2023 world championships. He was ahead of the American, Robert Finke, of five tenth of seconds with a chrono of 14 minutes 31 seconds and 54 hundredths, beat, at the same time, the record for the competition. It should be recalled that the world record for this discipline is 14 minutes 31 seconds and 02 hundredths.
This gold medal is the second of Ayoub Hafnaoui at the 2023 world swimming championships in Fukuoka in Japan after the one won at 800 meters freestyle without counting the silver medal at 400 meters freestyle.
A dazzling ascent
In two years, Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui has experienced a meteoric ascent. The numerous meetings he took part, especially this year, were successful with three medals (2 gold and 1 money) at the Knoxville pro Tyr meeting in the United States last January.
Last March, the Olympic champion won three gold medals during the Protyr’s meeting in Fort Lauderdale, in the United States.
Finally, last May, he distinguished himself with two gold medals won during the Barcelona meeting (400m and 1500m freestyle).
All his successes and his new coat of world champion, promise a lot with the view of the next Olympic Games.
