Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui’s gold medal surprised him, too
Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui’s gold medal amazed him to Tokyo —Also, Ahmed Hafnaoui changed into
surprised that he became even in Sunday’s men’s 400 meter freestyle final after he swam the slowest time to
qualify within the semifinal heats the day earlier. The 18-12 months-antique from Tunisia covered up in Lane 8
understanding he wasn’t anticipated to contend for a medal.
So while he touched the wall after his race, he appeared upon the scoreboard and became shocked with the aid
of what he noticed — the teenager had gained the gold medal by using just zero.16 seconds over Australia’s Jack
McLoughlin to come to be the biggest Cinderella tale early on in these Olympics.
Also, “I was surprised myself. It’s fantastic. I simply can’t trust it,” said Ahmed Hafnaoui, who received with a time
of three minutes 43.36 seconds.
Also, Ahmed Hafnaoui did no longer wear a commonplace tune uniform to the medal podium in a while —
possibly because one wasn’t organized for him — and he put the gold medal on in a T-blouse and shorts. His
eyes swelled with tears as Tunisia’s flag was raised and its anthem played. He received the united states of
America’s 5th gold medal and became the second Tunisian swimmer to win a gold, joining Oussama Mellouli,
who won the 1,500- meter freestyle on the 2008 games in Beijing.
“He’s a legend.
I desire to be like him in the future,” Hafnaoui said of Mellouli. “I was in tears. After I see the flag
of my u. S . A . And I hear the anthem within the background, it turned into exceptional. I’m so happy with it.”
Hafnaoui said he commenced in the game at age 6 whilst his father, who’s reportedly a former member of the
Tunisia men’s basketball group signed him up for a swimming club. so, His win Sunday turned into making all of
the greater outstanding considering he finished eighth within the same event on the 2018 kids Olympic video
games.
He plans to swim collegiately inside the u.S.A. Subsequent yr, although he said Sunday that he doesn’t but
recognize which faculty he’s going to attend.
“I simply need to get higher,” he said.
Also, Ahmed Hafnaoui ought to get lots of attention from college applications after Sunday, whilst he took
manipulate of the race early and held off McLoughlin (three: forty-three. Fifty-two) over the very last 50 meters.
American Kieran Smith took the bronze with a time of three: forty-three. 94.
Also, “I noticed the Australian guy from Lane 6. It becomes a super fight ultimately,” Hafnaoui stated. “I believed
when I touched the wall and that I saw. I was so amazed. I didn’t anticipate that.”
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other:
Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui’s gold medal surprised him, too
