Tunisia’s Jaouadi Wins 800m Freestyle Gold at World Championships in Singapore

At the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Léon Marchand set a new world record in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 1:52.61, breaking Ryan Lochte's 14-year-old record by over a second. Meanwhile, Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi claimed gold in the men's 800-meter freestyle, posting the third-fastest time ever at 7:36.88, a major milestone following his fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jaouadi revealed he had struggled with depression after a disappointing late 2024 season but overcame it to achieve this victory, dedicating his win to fellow Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui, who is currently suspended for anti-doping violations. German swimmers Sven Schwarz and Lukas Märtens took silver and bronze respectively in the 800m freestyle, while American Bobby Finke finished fourth. The championships have also seen several athletes affected by illness, including Australia's Sam Short, who withdrew from the 800m freestyle final due to food poisoning. Marchand, who won four gold medals at the 2024 Olympics, is focusing on a lighter schedule this year, aiming to break his own world record in the 400 IM later in the competition.