Longshot Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui shocks world by winning Olympic gold

Kellen Forrest · Writer
Sun, July 25, 2021, 1:37 AM · 2 min read

In 2019, Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui told French outlet La Presse that his ultimate goal was to win an Olympic gold medal.

At that time, however, he was thinking about the Paris Summer Games in 2024.

The 18-year-old was just supposed to be gaining some much-needed Olympic experience in 2020, but apparently he decided to move up his timeline.

Hafnaoui was first to the wall in a star-studded 400-metre freestyle final on Sunday morning in Tokyo, just out-touching Australia’s Jack McLoughlin.

His reaction when he looked up to see what he had just accomplished was exactly what makes the Olympic Games so great. Raw emotion exploded from the Tunisian. Screams of utter joy filled the fan-less swimming complex as he pounded the water with his fists.

What the Olympics are all about! This reaction is gold medal worthy 🥇

Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia with a surprise 🥇 win in the men's 400m freestyle 🇹🇳

Watch all the #Tokyo2020 swimming action live:

https://cbc.ca/player/play/1919385155849

Link to tweet

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