Fukuoka 2023, Day 4 Africa Recap: Hafnaoui Claims 1st North African Gold Since 2009

2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 23 to 30, 2023
• Fukuoka, Japan
• Marine Messe Fukuoka
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Entry Book
• Live Results (Omega)
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Live Recap | Day 4 Finals Live Recap

Not to go into the history of African colonization, the lasting impact of apartheid in South Africa, and the geopolitical problems facing the continent today, but Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui made history today and not just with his time.

Hafnaoui’s 7:37.00 not only won gold by over three-quarters of a second but also became the fastest performance by a swimmer in a textile suit.

All-Time Top Performers, Men’s 800 Free:

1. Zhang Lin, China — 7:32.12 (2009)
2. Oussama Mellouli, Tunisia — 7:35.27 (2009)
3. Ahmed Hafnaoui, Tunisia — 7:37.00 (2023)
4. Sam Short, Australia — 7:37.76 (2023)
5. Sun Yang, China — 7:38.57 (2011)

Both Zhang Lin’s and Ous Mellouli’s swim came in 2009 when both were wearing “super-suits,” Hafnaoui’s time immediately jumps him to the top of the favorites list for the 800 free in Paris. Entering this meet, his personal best was 7:45.54, and despite winning the 400m free in Tokyo, he failed to make the final in the 800, swimming 7:49.14 to finish 10th.

But what is more important than the time is the medal. Hafnaoui’s gold is the first pool gold for North Africa since countryman Mellouli won the 1500 at the 2009 Rome World Championships. If you exclude South Africa, this is the first gold for the entire continent since 2009, when Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry also won gold in the 200 backstroke.

Hafnaoui stands at the front of a strong crop of young North African talent. In the prelims, Egypt’s Youssef Ramadan set a new national record of 48.77 in the men’s 100 free. Ramadan, who attends Virginia Tech was the 2023 NCAA champion in the 100 fly. Ramadan joins compatriots Abdelrahman Sameh and Marwan Elkamash, who had already written their names into the national record book in the 50 fly for the former, and in the 800 free for the latter.

National/Continental Records Through Day 4:

• Cameroon
  • Giorgio Nguichie Kamseu Kamogne – men’s 50 fly, 29.93
  • Hugo Nguiche – men’s 100 free, 1:03.00
• Cape Verde
  • Jayla Pina – women’s 100 breast – 1:14.09
• Egypt
  • Abdelrahman Sameh – men’s 50 fly, 22.94
  • Marwan Elkamash – men’s 800 fre, 7:46.55
  • Youssef Ramadan – men’s 100 free, 48.77
• Guinea
  • Fode Amara Camara – men’s 50 fly, 28.42
  • Fode Amara Camara – men’s 50 breast, 33.42
  • Mariama Toure – women’s 100 breast, 1:35.41
• Guinea-Bissau
  • Pedro Rogery – men’s 100 free, 1:18.28
• Lesotho
  • Refiloe Chopo – men’s 50 fly, 34.21
• Namibia
  • Xander Skinner – men’s 100 free, 50.00
• Rwanda
  • Cedrick Niyibizi – men’s 100 free, 55.87
• South Africa
  • Rebecca Meder – women’s 200m IM, 2:10.95
• Sudan
  • Rana Saadeldin – women’s 50 back, 36.32
• The Gambia
  • Aminata Burrow – women’s 100 breast- 1:14.32
• Tunisia
  • Ahmed Hafnaoui – men’s 400m free, 3:40.70 *African Record
• Uganda
  • Tendo Mukalazi – men’s 100 free, 52.56
• Zambia
  • Mia Phiri – women’s 50 back, 30.17
• Zimbabwe
  • Denilson Cyprianos – men’s 100 back, 57.29

Medal Table (Africa) Through Day 4: