FINA World Championship : Olympic champion Mellouli is the best in the 5km

AKUATIK INDONESIA-The Olympic 10km champion Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia won his first FINA World Championship title in the 5km using his trademark "jets" to sprint to the touch-pad in the final 100 metres of the race. Mellouli unseated Thomas Lurz of Germany who has dominated the 5km event since his first title in 2005's Montreal World Championships.

Mellouli had planned to take a year off after the Olympics. "I didn't expect to win the 5km. I am really happy with the results. I did take six months off and got back into training not too long ago. To be on top of the world is quite exciting for me."

The Tunisian won his first medal in Barcelona at the World Championships 10 years ago. He is the only athlete to have won a medal in both the Olympic pool and in open water events. Mellouli was the gold medallist in the 1500m freestyle at the 2008 Olympics, the bronze medallist in the 1500m freestyle at the 2012 Olympics, and the gold medallist in the 10km marathon swim at the 2012 Olympics.