Ahmed Hafnaoui

Yui Ohashi

TOKYO (Reuters): Surprise gold medal joy in the pool for Tunisia and Japan and an Aussie world record contrasted with abject misery for some of the world’s best athletes whose Olympics were over in a flash on a dramatic Sunday in Tokyo.

Japan secured its second Olympic gold with Yui Ohashi’s victory in the 400m women’s medley, but it was Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui who stunned swimming superpowers with a win in the men’s 400m freestyle.

“I just can’t believe it. It’s a dream and it became true. It was great. It was my best race ever,” the 18-year-old Hafnaoui said after he produced a blistering finish to pip Australia’s Jack McLoughlin, with US swimmer Kieran Smith taking bronze.

The joy in the teenager’s face was in sharp contrast to the misery of Wimbledon champion Ash Barty upon her shock departure in the first round. Britain’s twice Olympic champion Andy Murray didn’t even get that far. He pulled out of the tournament injured before his opening singles match.

The Aussies got their moment in the pool in the last of the morning races when the Dolphins beat their own world record of 3:29.69 in the 4x100m women’s freestyle relay. Chase Kalisz delivered Team USA its first gold in the men’s 400m medley.

Ohashi’s gold offers organisers hope of improving enthusiasm for the delayed Olympics among the Japanese public, who are labouring under a state of emergency in the capital amid elevated COVID-19 cases. The shadows of the pandemic continued to hang over the Games. World number six golfer Bryson DeChambeau was replaced in the US men’s team after testing positive for COVID-19 before his departure. The Dutch rowing coach also tested positive as Olympic organisers reported 10 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total disclosed to 132. 

Earlier in the day, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga phoned judoka Naohisa Takato to offer congratulations after the triple world champion secured Japan’s first gold medal with victory over Taiwan’s Yang Yung-wei on Saturday.

“This gold medal gives hopes and dreams to many children and young people. There are also reports that many families are really delighted,” Suga said in the call.

Japanese tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, who lit the Olympic cauldron on Friday at the opening ceremony, started her first match against China’s Saisai Zheng at the Ariake Tennis Park.

Australia win gold, set world record in women’s 4x100 freestyle relay

Tears of joy for Japan duo, nap time for Chinese, after wins