Ahmed Jaouadi Triumphs at World Aquatics Championships Amid Personal Struggles

At the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Jaouadi clinched his first major title in the men's 800-meter freestyle, finishing in 7 minutes and 36.88 seconds—the third-fastest time in history for this event.

Jaouadi's victory is particularly significant given his recent struggles with mental health. After securing a bronze medal at the 2024 Budapest Short Course Championships, he battled depression, leading him to take a break from training until March 2025. He attributes his recovery and success to the unwavering support of his team and staff.

In the final, Jaouadi strategically surged ahead after the halfway mark, overtaking German swimmers Sven Schwarz and Lukas Märtens. Schwarz secured silver with a time of 7:39.96, while Märtens took bronze at 7:40.19.

Reflecting on his race strategy, Jaouadi stated, "I didn't really think about strategy; I was just trying to control the race and see what happens. At some point, I saw that the rhythm wasn't that fast, so I decided to just go and make the move."

Jaouadi's time of 7:36.88 is the fastest recorded in the post-supersuit era, with only China's Zhang Lin (7:32.12) and Tunisia's Ous Mellouli (7:35.27) having swum faster times in 2009 while wearing now-banned "supersuits."

He dedicated his victory to fellow Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui, the Tokyo 2020 400m freestyle champion, who is currently serving a 21-month suspension due to three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period. Jaouadi expressed, "This one is for Hafnaoui—he's having some hard times now."

The competition was affected by health issues among athletes. Australian swimmer Sam Short, who had qualified second-fastest for the 800m freestyle final, withdrew hours before the race due to food poisoning. Short had previously secured a silver medal in the 400m freestyle at the same championships. Additionally, the U.S. team reported that the majority of their swimmers suffered from acute gastroenteritis during the event.

Jaouadi's triumph underscores the importance of mental health support in sports, demonstrating how athletes can overcome personal challenges with adequate assistance. His dedication to Hafnaoui highlights the camaraderie among Tunisian swimmers and brings attention to the consequences of anti-doping violations. Furthermore, the health issues affecting multiple athletes during the championships raise concerns about event organization and athlete welfare.

Ahmed Jaouadi's victory at the World Aquatics Championships is a powerful narrative of resilience and determination. His ability to overcome personal challenges and achieve historic success serves as an inspiration, emphasizing the significance of mental health support and the enduring spirit of athletes.