USC Alum (Class of 2007 : Computer Engineering and Computer Science)

La Marsa - Tunis, Tunisia

6’3”

Feb. 16, 1984

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OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE

• Sixth-time Olympian

  • Punched his ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after finishing 10th in the 10K open water swim Olympic qualifier in Setubal, Portugal (June 20, 2021)

  • Will become only the fourth swimmer ever to compete in six Olympics

  • Only other Trojan to appear in six Olympic Games, in any sport, was American fencer Janice Lee York Romary (1948-52-56-60-64-68)
     

• 2016 Rio Games

  • Finished 12th in the open water 10K

  • 21st in the 1500m free

  • Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony
     

• 2012 London Games

  • Gold medalist in the marathon 10K

  • Bronze medalist in the 1500m free

  • Only swimmer to ever win gold medals in both open water

  • Flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony
     

• 2008 Beijing Games

  • Gold medalist in the 1500m free

  • Set an African record in the 1500m free and became the first African male swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual swimming event

  • Upon winning gold, Mellouli became the first swimmer in 11 years to defeat the reigning champion, Grant Hackett, in that event, and became the second Tunisian with an Olympic gold medal
     

• 2004 Athens Games

  • Fifth in the 400m IM

  • Ninth in the 200m IM

  • 14th in the 1500m free
     

• 2000 Sydney Games

  • 43rd in the 400m IM
     

 

WORLD EXPERIENCE

· Won 16 medals at the 2011 Pan Arab Games in Doha, taking home 15 gold medals and 1 silver

• · Four-time FINA World Championship gold medalist

• · Became the 1500m free world champion at the 2009 FINA World Championships with a winning time of 14:37.28

• · At the 2005 World Championships, Mellouli won bronzes in the 400m free and 400m IM and took fifth in the 800m free

• o Prior to World’s, he won three golds at the 2005 Mediterranean Games (400m and 800m free and 400m IM)

• · Won gold in the 400m IM and bronze in the 200m IM at the 2004 Short Course World Championships

• · At the 2003 World Championships, Mellouli won a bronze medal in the 400m IM
   

 

USC CAREER

• · NCAA Champion (400y IM - 2005)

• o Still holds the USC record in the men’s 400y IM (3:39.19 - 2003)

• · Seven-time Pac-12 Champion (2003-2006)

• o 500 free (2004-05-06)

• o 400 IM (2004-05-06)

• o 1650 free (2004)

• · 16-time All-American

• · Holds both the Uytengsu Aquatics Center 400m (3:44.79 - 2006) and 800m freestyle records (7:49.02)

• · In 2018, Mellouli was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame

• · Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year
   

 

PERSONAL

• · Is the second oldest swimmer qualified for the Tokyo Olympics (37 years old), only behind Canada’s Brent Hayden

• · Battled two herniated disks in his back that limited his training leading up to the 2008 games

• · USC’s Head Coach Jeremy Kipp served as the personal coach for Mellouli at the 2009 Mediterranean Games (where Ous won five gold medals), and the 2009 World Championships (where Ous won a gold and two silvers)

• · Oussama’s mother was the one who first encouraged him to swim (she signed him up for swim safety courses at the age of two)

• · Left his native Tunisia at 15 years old to study in France

• o Tunisia’s Ministry of Sports and swimming federation collaborated to provide him with a grant for both swimming and academics

• · Was awarded the Swimming World Magazine Male Open Water Swimmer of the Year Swammy Award in 2012

• · FINA Open Water Swimming Athlete of the Year for 2012