The crossing between Italy and Tunisia of Nejib Belhedi has caused a lot of ink to flow. If some evoke a feat and a world record for free water swimming, others speak of a hoax.
We contacted Nejib Belhadi to better understand the situation. He first indicated that his wife was hospitalized. Not having supported insults and mockery towards her husband, “she ended up cracking and making a crisis”.
Nejib Belhedi then said that his “world record will be officially recognized in the coming days”, saying that “all the stages of the crossing have been officially supervised by a race commander”.
As for the breaks he made on the boat that accompanied him during the crossing, Belhedi indicated that these are “organizational questions”, saying that “it is the race commander who requires making this kind of break to avoid mist because the boat can no longer sail, no longer having a vision”.
Nejib Belhedi also expressed his dissatisfaction with the reaction of the Oussema Mellouli Olympic champion who described him as a “biggest lie in history”.
The Tunisian free water swimmer would have achieved a new world performance at the age of 70 by traveling 155 km non-stop between the Italian island of Pantelleria and the Côtes de Yasmine Hammamet Sud.
“Today I achieved a new world feat which is the result of a long work and perseverance,” said the Lieutenant-Colonel retired from the national army to the TAP agency.
For its part, the Ministry of Youth and Sports announced yesterday, in a statement, that following the controversy aroused by the exploit of the swimmer Nejib Belhedi, it was decided to begin an investigation.
The department announces that it will come back to the various details of this case to enlighten public opinion.
