Mellouli becomes first Tunisian world champion

MELBOURNE, March 28 (Reuters) Oussama Mellouli became Tunisia's first world swimming champion when he pulled off a surprise win in the men's 800 metres freestyle final today.

The 23-year-old Mellouli stormed home over the last 100 metres to snatch the gold medal in seven minutes 46.95 seconds after taking silver in the 400 on Sunday.

Poland's Przemyslaw Stanczyk collected the silver medal this time in 7:47.91 after briefly taking the lead at the 600 mark while the bronze went to Australia's Craig Stevens in 7:48.67.

Australia's Grant Hackett, twice world champion and world record holder, finished seventh in his first major meeting since undergoing shoulder surgery more than a year ago.

Hackett was third in Sunday's 400 freestyle final when Park Tae-hwan became South Korea's first world champion, but could not keep pace with his rivals this time, finishing almost half a lap behind Mellouli.

Tunisia is best known for producing footballers and runners but Mellouli put the North African country on the swimming map when he won two bronze medals at the last world championships in Montreal two years ago.

''It's definitely history in the making, for me and my country,'' he told a news conference.

Mellouli was born in the capital Tunis but moved to Marseille to study at university before relocating to the US where he is now based.

''I have taken my bac (baccalaureate) in Marseille and then I left France and moved to Los Angeles to continue my studies,'' he said.

Mellouli's victory was party overshadowed by the sluggish performance of Hackett, the undisputed king of long-distance swimming.

Although the 800 is not on the Olympic programme, Hackett's dismal performance does not auger well for his prospects of winning the 1,500 world title for the fifth straight time.

The 26-year-old has not been beaten in the 1,500 for almost a decade but said before the championships began that his reign might end because he was struggling to produce his best times.

''I have not come in with the perfect preparation,'' he said.

''I have to put my head down and focus for the next few days and try and move on from this swim.'' Hackett conceded he had virtually no hope of winning the 1,500 title but said he was not considering pulling out to protect his unbeaten run.

''You just can't go into a race for the sake of winning it,'' he said. ''You have got to be able to go in and give the best you can.

''That was tough for me tonight and it's going to be even tougher in the 1,500 heats. My fitness does not feel like it is there.'' REUTERS SAM RK1900