Tunisia’s rising star Ahmed Jaouadi delivered a breakout performance at the World Swimming Championships on Wednesday, capturing his first major international title with a decisive victory in the men’s 800-meter freestyle.
The 20-year-old executed a brilliantly timed strategy, making his move at the halfway mark of the race. Surging ahead of the pack, Jaouadi touched the wall in a blistering 7 minutes 36.88 seconds — the third-fastest time ever recorded in the event.
German swimmers Sven Schwarz (7:39.96) and Lukas Maertens (7:40.19), the reigning 400m freestyle world champion, rounded out the podium with silver and bronze, respectively. Olympic 1,500m champion Bobby Finke of the United States finished just off the podium in fourth with 7:46.42.
Jaouadi, who narrowly missed a medal by placing fourth in the 800m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said the win was not the result of a rigid race plan. “I didn’t really focus on strategy; I was just trying to manage the race and see how it unfolded,” he said. “At one point, I noticed the pace wasn’t particularly quick, so I decided to take the initiative and make my move.”
Ireland’s Olympic gold medalist Daniel Wiffen, a pre-race contender, struggled and finished last in 7:58.56.
Jaouadi dedicated his triumph to fellow Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion in the 400m freestyle, who is currently serving a 21-month suspension for missing three anti-doping tests.
“This win is for Hafnaoui — he’s going through a tough time right now,” Jaouadi said, paying tribute to his compatriot, who remains a national hero despite the controversy.
The race was marked not only by Jaouadi’s dominance but also by a string of withdrawals and health concerns affecting the competition. Australia’s Sam Short, the second-fastest qualifier for the final and silver medalist in the 400m freestyle, was forced to withdraw just hours before the race due to stomach illness. He is among several athletes hit by a wave of sickness sweeping through the championships in Singapore.
The U.S. team confirmed that the "overwhelming majority" of its swimmers have experienced symptoms of acute gastroenteritis during the meet, while Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi reported feeling unwell ahead of his 100m breaststroke final.
Despite the health setbacks plaguing the event, Jaouadi’s performance has emerged as a defining moment of the championships — a testament to both talent and timing — and a proud milestone for Tunisian swimming on the global stage.