Surprise winners are part of the joy of the Olympic Games

From an Austrian cyclist to a Tunisian swimmer, we have already seen some shock wins from underdogs in Tokyo, writes Chris Stevenson

Anna Kiesenhofer celebrates winning gold (Getty)

The run-up to the Olympic Games in Tokyo was difficult, to put it mildly. But now that the events are in full swing, we are getting the first surprise wins – and they are always a joy to behold.

Anna Kiesenhofer, an Austrian mathematician who has no professional cycling team attachment, won gold in the cycling road race after helping launch an early breakaway and managing to sustain it. Kiesenhofer finished more than a minute ahead of 2019 world champion Annemiek van Vleuten, so far ahead that Van Vleuten mistakenly celebrated as she crossed the line.

A relative unknown, Kiesenhofer has become the first Austrian to win an Olympic road race medal. “It feels incredible,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. Even when I crossed the line, it was like, ‘Is it done now? Do I have to continue riding?’ Incredible.”

Elsewhere, Tunisian swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui took the top step of the podium in the men’s 400m freestyle. The teenager won from the outside lane after qualifying slowest, claiming his country’s fifth ever gold – and third in swimming after Oussama Mellouli won gold in both 2008 and 2012.

“I just can’t believe it. It’s a dream and it became true. It was great, it was my best race ever,” Hafnaoui said.

This is what is great about the Olympics, when the hard work of athletes can be rewarded with something truly unexpected and potentially life-altering. After 18 months where joy has been hard to come by at times, there is something great in being able to bask in the pure, unadulterated happiness of an athlete achieving their dreams.

It comes with a flip-side of course – athletes feeling disappointed in their performance. While a silver (Bradly Sinden) and bronze (Chelsie Giles) were claimed by Team GB in the taekwondo on Sunday, Jade Jones, who was looking to claim a third straight Olympic title – was knocked out in the first round of her weight class.

Sure are the fine margins of sport.

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Editor, Voices