Full-On Hafnaoui

Tunisian teenager takes shock victory in 400m free swimming; Japan’s Horigome wins first skateboarding gold

Japan celebrates gold rush on day of upsets

Tokyo: The host nation bagged skateboarding’s first gold medal courtesy of Yuto Horigome before swimmer Yui Ohashi emerged victorious as Japan’s overall gold medal tally rose to five, one behind China and one ahead of the United States.

Tunisia are unlikely to add to their solitary gold but no medal of the Games will be celebrated more wildly than that earned via the astounding achievement of 18-year-old Ahmed Hafnaoui, who stunned the swimming superpowers with victory from lane eight in the men’s 400m freestyle.

“It’s a dream and it became true - it was my best race ever,” Hafnaoui said in an Olympic-level understate ment after he held off heavily-fancied Australian Jack McLoughlin and American Kieran Smith despite qualifying slowest for the final.

“When I saw the flag of my country being raised and I heard the national anthem I had tears in my eyes,” he said. “I felt so proud. I dedicate this title to all the Tunisian people. You have a champion now!”