Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi has been on a steady trajectory over the last year. He’s gone from finaling in the 800/1500 in Paris to winning two medals (gold in the 1500, bronze in the 800) at the 2024 SC World Champs to now becoming a double world champ in Singapore. Jaouadi sat down with SwimSwam to discuss his ascent to the distance throne, when he learned how to put in hard work, and why he chose to come to Gainesville this fall to compete for the University of Florida.
In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.
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Jaoudi swam in the heats of Stockholm (04-12) a 3.54,77 about 400m. Lukas swam world record in the final.
In Tokio Lukas was only on the 3.place
Its hard to explain the increase of Ahmad in the short time.
He don.t know nothin bout what is hard work until he slips into a pool and races with Finke and Ledecky day after day…then maybe he will join the real hard work team – Chomp chomp.
I just hope Florida works for him.
I wish I could get excited. But Ahmed Hafnaoui.
Can you expound here?
Joauidi has a faster 800 and probably a higher ceiling. That being said, Hafnaoui’s 2023 has a magical feel to it (that beautiful stroke) and you’d think he wants to go for that triple.
This Tunisian Tussle over the next few years going to 2028 might be one of the biggest stories in swimming. I think they both keep Finke and any other non Tunisian from winning another title for the foreseeable future.
Hafnaoui’s 2023 was magical. And he was only 20 at Fukuoka. I still think he can improve if his mental health is in check. Wishing best of luck cus the whole swim community would love a fit and happy hafnaoui back
I think you’re underestimating Bobby. That man is a gamer. When Paltrineri figured out his strategy and beat him to the World 1500 title by going out fast from the jump, he changed his strategy and went out hard from the start in Paris, breaking the World Record. He was sick at Worlds, and still gutted his way to a 14:36 1500. That dude is tough as nails and wants to win. He beat both Leon Marchand and Carson Foster in the 400 IM this summer. No one is going to out gut him, and he’ll know exactly what their strategy is because he trains with them. I’m excited to see the three of them push the distance races out… Read more »
Yeah based on following track and field closely there are a few countries who immediately make me wonder. Tunisia is one of them. They have recently been on the WADA watchlist and on the non-compliant list.
Bahrain is another one. They are currently restricted toward how many Africans they can naturalize and how many of their track athletes can compete in this year’s world championships, just like the Olympics last year, because of doping violations.
This!
Sorry guys, but 3 whereabouts?
I know it’s not fair to cast doubt without proof, but as I said, I can’t get excited.
Why do Hafnaoui’s whereabouts failures have anything to do with Jaouadi? Should Summer McIntosh be suspected of doping because of Oleksiak’s whereabouts failures?
Canada has always complied with WADA. Tunisia? Not so much! And “undisclosed injuries” always gives me pause.
The WADA watchlist and noncompliant list probes domestic policing capacity, or lack thereof due to corruption. For example, Major Michael Rotich offering advanced notice of doping officials when in Kenya’s North Rift province. But that reveals little about Jaouadi and Hafnaoui, neither of whom actually train in Tunisia.
Repping da Bulls!
Coleman needs read about Lucas’ resume! You have to be willing to put in the work to be a good swimmer. Swimming buckets won’t make it! You judge the sport by ncaa training! College trained swimmers aren’t dominating the sport!
I liked Ahmed’s mentality towards the sport and towards life! It is still a sport and there is more towards life than sport!
GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Coach: Lucas, Philippe (FRA)
His resume is pretty insane. I would argue he’s a better distance coach than Nesty – but then again, Nesty is training the two best distance swimmers in the world, and soon he’ll be coaching Hafnaoui and Jaouadi.
Could it be than Jaouadi just wants to have the US college experience? I wish him so much success – he had me rooting for him as soon as he took off in the 800.
It was as if he had that infinite stamina feel that you sometimes get in a training when you can’t get tired
This guy is popping off
I feel like Tunisians are disproportionately good at distance free and Hungarians are disproportionately good at the 200 fly
Japanese disproportionately good at 200 BR, Aussies disproportionately good at 400 FR
Japanese 200 breaststroke is disgusting.
Americans were formerly disproportionately good at backstroke
if you listen to the Social Kick podcast, he explains that Tunisia only focuses on the distance free, even the sprinters have to train it haha
He trains in France!
The Hungarian Openwater Crew would like a word with you, Men’s Gold and Bronze from 10km in Paris did not do it Butterfly. The Hungarians may do a lot of fly in training but those guys (and girls, hello Bettina) can swim distance free with the best in the world.