BIGGEST UPSET/SURPRISE

CONTINUED FROM 17 BIGGEST UPSET/SURPRISE: AHMED HAFNAOUI (400 FREE) & LYDIA JACOBY (100 BREAST)

It happens every Olympiad, a traditional development that is awaited. We just don’t know where it will come from. A distance event? From a stroke discipline? Male? Female? The beautiful part of the scenario is its guessing-game nature. Who will provide the surprise performance of the Games?

Tokyo supplied a pair.

Prior to the start of the Olympic Games, few experts—if any—had Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui and American Lydia Jacoby standing on the top step of the podium at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Yet, that is where they stood after their prime events, Hafnaoui the champion of the men’s 400 meter freestyle and Jacoby the gold medalist in the women’s 100 breaststroke.

When the final of the 400 freestyle was called to the starting blocks, little attention was paid to Hafnaoui. He had narrowly advanced to the championship race, occupying Lane 8. But as the cliché goes, he had a lane and a chance, and the 18-year-old took advantage of his opportunity.

Lurking in second place from the 150-meter mark through the last turn, Hafnaoui overhauled frontrunner Jack McLoughlin of Australia down the last lap and prevailed in 3:43.36, the Aussie earning silver in 3:43.52.

Hafnaoui became just the second Tunisian to capture Olympic gold in the sport, joining Ous Mellouli, who was the 2008 titlist in the 1500 freestyle and 2012 champion in the 10K open-water event. It was a startling triumph, but could be just the beginning of a superb international career.

“I cannot believe it,” Hafnaoui said. “It was a dream, and it has come true. It was great, it was my best race. I was in tears (on the podium) because I saw the flag of my country and I heard the anthem in the background. It was great. I’m so proud. I dedicate it

>> American Lydia Jacoby, 17, going into her senior year at Seward High School in Alaska, came from behind in the 100 breast to overtake world record holder Lilly King and eventual 200 breast world record holder Tatjana Schoenmaker. Afterward, Jacoby said, “Coming from a small club—in a state with such a small population—really shows everyone that you can do it no matter where you’re from.” [ Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher / USA Today Sports ]

>> Swimming in Lane 8 of the men’s 400 freestyle on the first day of finals in the meet’s second event, 18-year-old Ahmed Hafnaoui became just the second Tunisian to capture Olympic gold in swimming, joining Ous Mellouli, the 2008 titlist in the 1500 and 2012 champion in the 10K marathon. [ Photo Courtesy: Robert Hanashiro / USA Today Sports ]