London, England – Tunisia's Oussama Mellouli won the men's 10-kilometer open water marathon Friday, making Olympic history as the first swimmer to medal inside and outside the pool.
Mellouli had already won the 1,500-meter freestyle at the Beijing Olympics and took bronze in the event here in London. He's fairly new to the distance event but won a FINA Olympic qualifier in June.
The 28-year-old slapped the timing board at the finish in 1 hour, 49 minutes and 55.1 seconds. Germany's Thomas Lurz, the 2008 bronze medalist, was 3.4 seconds slower for silver.
Canada's Richard Weinberger won the bronze, 5.2 seconds off gold medal pace.
Alex Meyer was the top American, finishing 10th after the grueling race in Hyde Park's Serpentine lake.
Mellouli pumped his chest after finishing and called his accomplishment -- winning medals in the pool and open water -- "probably one of the toughest things to do."
He said he's been struggling with shoulder and elbow injuries and fought a virus. Mellouli said his win was "a miracle if you believe in miracles."
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