Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui was so shocked to see his name in the gold medal position for the 400m freestyle on Sunday he did not believe his eyes but after letting his stunning win at the Tokyo Olympics sink in he said he hoped to have made his family proud.
The 18-year-old, who finished ahead of Australia's Jack McLoughlin and U.S. swimmer Kieran Smith, said he was surprised even to be in the final, where he swam in the outside lane after being the slowest in qualifying.
Hafnaoui powered home over the last 50m, touching the wall in 3:43.36, far quicker than the 3:45.68 he swam in qualifying on Saturday. Letting out a scream when he realised he had won, he pumped his first and pointed at the electronic score board. Hafnaoui, who joined Tunisia's national swimming programme as a 12-year-old, was all smiles at the medal ceremony and news conference where he was mobbed by reporters and inundated by requests for selfies.Hafnaoui, whose father Mohamed Hafnaoui was a former member of the national basketball team, will race in the 800m freestyle on Tuesday. He said he plans to go to college in the United States but did not specify where.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Swimming-Tunisia, Japan celebrate unexpected gold, Australia smash world recordTunisia and Japan celebrated unexpected golds on the opening day of swimming medal events before normal service was resumed with the Australian women's 4x100m freestyle relay team smashing their own world record on the way to the title in Tokyo.
Consulte Mais informação »
Chase Kalisz Wins Gold! Swimmer Nabs First Medal for Team USA of the 2021 OlympicsMen's swimmer Chase Kalisz won the first medal for Team USA at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo after winning gold in the 400 IM swimming event.
Consulte Mais informação »
Tunisia and Japan stun swimming superpowers as Barty and Murray exitSurprise gold medal joy in the pool for Tunisia and Japan and an Aussie world record contrasted with abject misery for some of the world's best athletes whose Olympics were over in a flash on a dramatic Sunday in Tokyo.
Consulte Mais informação »
Olympics Latest: Ohashi wins swimming gold for JapanThe Latest on the Tokyo Olympics, which are taking place under heavy restrictions after a year’s delay because of the coronavirus pandemic: ___ MEDAL ALERT
Consulte Mais informação »