Tokyo Olympics: Tunisian Hafnaoui wins 400m swim gold

Teenage swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui stunned the Tokyo Aquatic Centre to become the first African to win a gold medal at the 2020 Olympics after a shock triumph in the 400m freestyle.

The 18-year old, who had been the slowest of the qualifiers for the final, produced one of the biggest surprises of the Games so far as he beat Australia's Jack McLoughlin, who won silver, and Kieran Smith of the USA, who took bronze.

Hafnaoui arrived at the Olympics with a time that was 15th best of the field and only qualified for the final in eighth place, putting him in the less favoured outer lane eight.

But he swam hard from the start and produced a brilliant final 50 metres to tap the wall in first. His winning time of three minutes 43.36 was three seconds faster than his personal best.

I was surprised I was a finalist and now I am surprised to get gold," Hafnaoui said.

"I believed it when I touched the wall and I saw myself first. I was so surprised. I didn't expect that."

Hafnaoui is now only the second Tunisian to win gold in a swimming event in the Olympics, after double champion Oussamma Mellouli - who will be swimming the 10km marathon later in the competition. And his role in the Games is not over, as he will also compete in the 800m freestyle on Tuesday.

The title is Tunisia's fifth Olympic gold medal.

"I was (had) in tears in my eyes - when I saw the flag of my country and I heard the anthem in the background it was great. I am so proud of it," Hafnaoui said afterwards.

"When I hit the water, I just thinking about winning the medal not the time, and to go faster than yesterday,"

"I saw the Australian guy in the second 200m, I feel (felt) great in the water, it was a great fight in the end."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/57959779

congrats bro...he won a gold in swimming?? seems micheal phelps don retire..