Salaheddine Torki: the fastest first 50m and an Algerian Dakar final

At 24.09 seconds, Algeria’s Salaheddine Torki reached 50m faster than anyone in the men’s 100m freestyle heats at Dakar 2026. That opening put him through to the final, where he finished eighth in 51.45. Both facts matter, and they are not the same result.

A 50m mark that led the field

On 2 November, Torki swam 51.20 in the heats. Africa Aquatics records his 24.09 first 50m as the fastest opening split among the 73 swimmers in the event. He was third in his heat and fifth overall, which earned a lane in the final. That heat ranking was a qualification result, not a medal placing.

The final decides the order

In the final, Torki turned fourth in 24.21 and completed the race in 51.45 for eighth. Russia’s Bogdan Toropkin won in 49.66; World Aquatics lists China’s Xie Yichen second in 50.18 and Chinese Taipei’s Lee Han third in 50.26. Official final ranking decides the podium.

What changed after the first length

The final opening 50m was 0.12 seconds slower than his heats split. His final time was 0.25 seconds slower than the heats time, about 0.49% relative to 51.20. These are SwimMENA calculations from recorded results, not claims about technique or training.

Subtracting each 50m split from the finish time yields 27.11 in the heats and 27.24 in the final.

Two finals in two days

The 16-year-old Algerian returned to the pool a day after the men’s 100m butterfly final, where he placed eighth. The freestyle was therefore his second Youth Olympic final in two days, an important Dakar marker for Algerian swimming even without a podium finish.

Sources and verification

• Dakar 2026 official results service
• Africa Aquatics: Torki fires the fastest 50m
• Africa Aquatics: Day 2 finals report
• World Aquatics: Dakar Day 2

Verified: 3 November 2026. Country, times and final placing were checked against the cited official and continental sources. SwimMENA calculations are identified above.