Ous Mellouli (2018) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Ous Mellouli

Induction:
2018
Class:
2005

Ous Mellouli was one of USC’s most prolific distance swimmers. He won the 2005 NCAA 400-yard individual medley title and seven Pac-10 titles on the way to being a 16-time All-American. A six-time Olympian (2000-04-08-12-16-20) for Tunisia, he was the first African male swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event when he won the 1500-meter freestyle in 2008 (just his country’s second gold medal ever). He got another gold when he won the open water marathon 10K in 2012 and, coupled with the bronze medal he won in that Olympics’ 1500-meter freestyle, he became the first Olympian to win medals in both open water and the pool in a single Olympics. He also won four World Championship gold medals. In his career, he won 66 medals in international competitions (37 gold, 15 silver, 14 bronze). He was Tunisia’s flag carrier in the 2012 Olympic closing ceremony and 2016 opening ceremony. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.