Rami Bilal Rahmouni, a Tunisian-born swimmer who was naturalized as Saudi in February 2026, has won the gold medal in the 400 meters freestyle event at the Youth Olympics in Dakar. He finished with a time of 3 minutes 47 seconds 86, ahead of Russian Bogdan Toropkin who took silver with 3 minutes 50 seconds 46, and Mexican Daniel Saborio Grillo who won bronze with 3 minutes 52 seconds 72.
Rahmouni's victory marks a historic moment for Saudi Arabia, as it is their first gold medal in swimming at the Olympics. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), this achievement is a milestone for the country's participation in the Olympics. The win also highlights Rahmouni's remarkable journey, having previously been regarded as a promising talent in Tunisian swimming before switching to represent Saudi Arabia.
In the same event, Tunisian swimmer Youssef Douma, 17, finished sixth with a time of 3 minutes 58 seconds 77. Despite being part of a less competitive heat, Douma managed to outpace four swimmers from the more competitive series. He finished 10.91 seconds behind Rahmouni and just 0.86 seconds behind South African Matthew Goller who took fifth place with 3 minutes 57 seconds 91.
The results from Dakar raise questions about Tunisia's ability to nurture and support its young swimming talents. While Rahmouni's achievement with Saudi Arabia is notable, the presence of Tunisian swimmers like Douma in the top six suggests that Tunisia has the potential to produce competitive swimmers. However, the challenge lies in creating a sustainable environment that allows these young athletes to develop and excel.
Another Tunisian swimmer, 14-year-old Mohamed Yassine Ben Ajmia, finished 22nd in the same event with a time of 4 minutes 10 seconds 69. The performance of these young athletes underscores the need for Tunisia to examine its approach to developing swimming talent and providing the necessary support for its young swimmers to succeed at the highest levels.
Rahmouni's gold medal is also Saudi Arabia's second gold medal at the Youth Olympics, following a karate victory at the 2018 Buenos Aires games. This achievement demonstrates the country's growing presence in international sports and its commitment to developing its athletes.
The contrast between Rahmouni's success with Saudi Arabia and Douma's sixth-place finish for Tunisia highlights the complexities of national representation and athlete development. As countries continue to invest in their sports programs, the issue of how to retain and support young talent will remain a pressing concern for nations like Tunisia seeking to make a mark in international competitions.
Key points
- Rahmouni's gold medal marks Saudi Arabia's first-ever Olympic gold in swimming.
- Tunisian swimmer Youssef Douma finished sixth in the same 400m freestyle event.
- Rahmouni was naturalized as a Saudi citizen in February 2026 after being identified as a promising talent in Tunisian swimming.
