体坛英语新闻：Tunisian Mellouli becomes first-ever Olympic medalist in pool and open water

LONDON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli outclassed a field of experienced rivals to win the men's 10km marathon swimming at the London Olympics on Friday, making himself the first swimmer to win medals both in pool and in open water at an Olympic Games.

Mellouli, who had earlier bagged a bronze medal in men's 1500m freestyle, finished the marathon race in 1:49:55.1, 3.4 seconds clear over Germany's silver medalist Thomas Lurz, bronze medalist of the event at Beijing Games.

The bronze medal went to Canadian marathon swimmer Richard Weinberger who finished in 1:50:00.3.

It has been the first time for Mellouli to compete in marathon swimming.

The 28-year-old, who won the FINA Olympic marathon swimming qualifier in Setubal of Portugal in June, came into Friday's competition with a nagging shoulder injury.

But he seemed not bothered by the injury during the race, going out fast in the first lap with Weinberger a close second.

Mellouli maintained his strengthen in the first half of the race, hanging on to let his rivals to lead the field and gradually reeling them in.

Around the 7km mark, Mellouli sped up and broke away from the field. He maintained a fast pace in the last kilometre, with other three swimmers racing for the silver and bronze.

In the final metres of the race, it was obvious that the 10km swimming had taken its toll on Mellouli, gold medalist of the 1500m freestyle at Beijing Games.

He slowed right down to touch in first, more than enough to secure his second medal of London Games.

"After the 2011 Shanghai World Championships I adjusted my focuses to the 1500m and 10km. I honestly thought my best chance was in the 10km. To win two medals in the 1500m and the 10km is pretty cool," said Mellouli.

He said the open water long course race was extremely hard. "There is no other way to describe it (10km swim). In the last 100m, as I lifted my head to look at the finish line, my shoulder was so heavy and my legs were tight, my lungs were burning, my whole system was in shock for the last five minutes," he said.

"It's like what a marathon runner goes through but it's even more painful than that. The 10km is probably one of the toughest events in all sports combined," he added.

Mellouli said he planed to retire after London Games, adding the "incredible" gold medal would be a happy ending for his swimming career.

The men's 10km marathon concludes the swimming competitions of London Games. Hungarian swimmer Eva Risztov captured the women's 10km marathon title a day before.