Maher Ben Hlima

Maher Ben Hlima (born 24 July 1989^[1]) is a Polish racewalker of Tunisian origin.

Maher Ben Hlima

Maher Ben Hlima at Záhorácka dvadsiatka 2023
Personal information
Nationality	Poland /  Tunisia
Born	(1989-07-24) 24 July 1989 (age 36)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Racewalking
Club	RKS Łódź
Coached by	Andrzej Chylinski

Career

Maher Ben Hlima won the 2007 African Junior Championship in the 10,000 m walk, representing Tunisia.^[2] In 2008, he participated in the World Junior Athletics Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, over the same distance, where he failed to finish the race due to disqualification.^[3] He then interrupted his sports career and moved to Poland, where, among other things, he opened a transport company.^[4] In 2019 he obtained Polish citizenship, and in 2021 he returned to racing.^[5] Since 31 May 2023, he is eligible to represent Poland internationally.^[1]

In 2023, he won the Polish championship in the 10,000 m and silver medals in the 5000 m (indoor), 20 km and 35 km distances.^[6] At the 69th Janusz Kusociński Memorial, he set a Polish record in the 1-mile walk with a time of 5:35.49.^[7] In 2024 he won the title of Polish indoor champion at 5000 m,^[8] Polish vice-championship at 20 km^[9] and gold at 10,000 m.^[10] He also competed in the world team championships (29th place in team with Olga Chojecka)^[11] and the European 20 km championships (7th place).^[12]

He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he reached 29th place at the 20 km distance^[13] and 16th place in team with Olga Chojecka at the mixed relay marathon.^[14]

Since 2023 he has represented the RKS Lodz club (coach: Andrzej Chylinski), and earlier KS Ultra Team Lódz.^[6]

Competition record

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Tunisia
2007	African Junior Championships	Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso	1st	10,000 m	53:09.98[2]
2008	World Junior Championships	Bydgoszcz, Poland	DSQ	10,000 m	DSQ[3]
Representing  Poland
2023	Polish Indoor Championships	Toruń, Poland	2nd	5000 m	20:33.44[15]
	Polish Championships	Warsaw, Poland	2nd	20 km	1:25.01[16]
	Polish Championships	Dudince, Slovakia	2nd	35 km	2:43.38[17]
	Polish Championships	Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland	1st	10,000 m	40:35.48[18]
2024	Polish Indoor Championships	Wrocław, Poland	1st	5000 m	19:37.59[18]
	World Race Walking Team Championships	Antalya, Turkey	29th	marathon, mixed relay (in team with Olga Chojecka)	3:07:31[11]
	Polish Championships	Warsaw, Poland	2nd	20 km	1:23:28[19][9]
	European Championships	Rome, Italy	7th	20 km	1:21:12[12]
	Polish Championships	Bydgoszcz, Poland	1st	10,000 m	40:33.56[10]
	Summer Olympics	Paris, France	29th	20 km	1:22:34[13]
			16th	marathon, mixed relay (in team with Olga Chojecka)	3:00:55[14]

Personal bests

• 3000 m walk (indoors) – 10:45.60 (2025-02-08, Rzeszów)^[1]
• 5000 m walk – 19:35.90 (2023-05-13, Warsaw)^[1]
• 5000 m walk (indoors) – 18:47.63 (2025-02-22, Toruń)^[1]
• 10,000 m walk – 39:32.63 (2024-03-27, Warsaw)^[20]
• 10 km walk – 39:46 (2023-09-16, Druskieniki)^[1]
• 20 km walk – 1:20:06 (2024-05-18, A Coruña)^[1]
• 35 km walk – 2:27:51 (2025-03-22, Dudince)^[1]
• Mile walk – 5:35.49 (2023-06-04, Chorzów) – Polish national record^[7][21]