Tunisian wins men’s freestyle gold at world championships

Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui has won the men’s 800m freestyle at the swimming world championships in Japan on July 26th.

Hafnaoui came home in a time of 7 min, 37.00 sec, ahead of Australia’s Sam Short on 7:37.76 and American Bobby Finke on 7:38.67. reports AFP.

Hafnaoui, Short and Germany’s Lukas Martens were neck-and-neck for almost the entire race until Hafnaoui pulled away over the home straight.

Hafnaoui took silver behind Short in the 400m freestyle on the competition’s opening night.

Hafnaoui is the reigning Olympic 400m freestyle champion.

Finke, who came into the race as the Olympic and world 800m champion, came through at the end to overtake Martens.

Tunisians celebrated Hafnaoui’s victory as a continuation of the athletic achievements of Olympic swimming gold medallist Oussama Melllouli and long-distance running champion Mohammed Gammoudi.

Local radio station IFM dubbed Hafnaoui “the Ons Jabeur of swimming”, in reference to Tunisia’s WTA fifth-seeded tennis player.

AFP