An unexpected withdrawal that upsets the first day
Initially seeded number 1 in the 1500m, Ahmed Jaouadi finally withdrew during the first day of the 2025 US Open, Wednesday December 3 in Austin. World distance champion and author of the best world time of the year (14’34”41), the Tunisian swimmer was eagerly awaited in what was to be the major highlight of the meeting.
His withdrawal from the start list, revealed at the time of publication of the heat sheet, completely reshuffled the cards and deprived the public of the announced duel with the American Bobby Finke, world record holder and training partner of Jaouadi in Florida.
Sibirtsev surprises Finke and offers himself a prestigious success
Deprived of his main rival, Bobby Finke nevertheless failed to dominate the race. The double Olympic champion was clearly ahead of Uzbek Ilia Sibirtsev, author of a race controlled from start to finish.
Sibirtsev, in clear progress in recent seasons, maintained a constant pace and stifled any attempt at a comeback from the American, especially in the last 300 meters where Finke is usually formidable.
This reversal of the situation recomposes the hierarchy of the world 1500m, a field that Finke has largely dominated for several years.
An absence of Jaouadi who questions
The abandonment of Ahmed Jaouadi left observers perplexed, especially since the world champion does not appear on the 400m entry list either. His sudden withdrawal, not explained by the management, aroused incomprehension and disappointment among the public and specialists alike, as the Jaouadi–Finke duel represented one of the main points of interest of this first day.
His absence also deprives the event of a major benchmark, Jaouadi being one of the rare swimmers capable of competing with Finke and dynamiting the race with his aggressive pace management.
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