Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Jaouadi secured his maiden major international title with a strategic triumph in the men’s 800m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Wednesday. The 20-year-old timed his decisive move perfectly, surging ahead midway through the race to claim gold in a blistering 7 minutes 36.88 seconds.
Jaouadi’s electrifying performance relegated Germany’s Sven Schwarz (7:39.96) and 400m freestyle champion Lukas Maertens (7:40.19) to silver and bronze, respectively. His victory was even more significant as he recorded the third-fastest time in history, building on his fourth-place finish at last year’s Paris Olympics.
Reflecting on his tactical approach, Jaouadi downplayed elaborate planning. “I didn’t really focus on strategy; I was just trying to manage the race and see how it unfolded,” he explained. “At one point, I noticed the pace wasn’t particularly quick, so I decided to take the initiative and make my move.” His calculated gamble paid off, leaving the field behind.
The podium featured notable absentees. Ireland’s Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen finished last in the eight-man final (7:58.56), while American Bobby Finke, the Olympic 1500m champion, placed fourth (7:46.42). Jaouadi dedicated his historic win to compatriot Ahmed Hafnaoui, the former Olympic gold medalist banned for 21 months in April following anti-doping violations. “This win is for Hafnaoui — he’s going through a tough time right now,” the champion stated.
The championships in Singapore have been overshadowed by widespread illness. Australia’s Sam Short, vying for silver after his 400m freestyling win, withdrew hours before the final due to stomach issues. The US team reported “overwhelming majority” cases of acute gastroenteritis among its swimmers, while Italian Nicolo Martinenghi also felt unwell ahead of his 100m breaststroke final. Jaouadi’s victory shone brightly against the backdrop of these challenges.
