Ous Mellouli Could Miss Pan Pacs Due to Visa Issue

Photo by David Farr

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BRISBANE, Australia, August 13. OUS Mellouli, Tunisia’s Olympic gold medalist, could be on the outside looking in at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships due to visa issues according to the Courier Mail.

Mellouli, the Olympic gold medalist in the 10K event at the 2012 London Olympics who also earned bronze in the 1500 free that year, is a medal favorite heading into Pan Pacs, especially in the open water events. He won the 5K at last year’s Worlds, and while he has been focusing on the pool since his RCP Tiburon Mile race last fall, still could challenge for a medal in open water.

This year, Mellouli has been training with the NBAC elites in Baltimore with an eye on Pan Pacs.

“The best are looking to compete against the best,” legendary coach Denis Cotterell told the Courier Mail. “He’d add quality to the field. I don’t know what he’s been doing this year but he’s invariably competitive when he shows up. It’s great for the sport and spectators. You get Olympic gold medallists in that event still wanting to compete is great and healthy for the sport.”

Mellouli was planning on heading straight to the Middle East FINA World Cup stops after competing at Pan Pacs. But, he might just be in a waiting pattern until turning in his top swims in Doha and Dubai.

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superfan

9 years ago

I am pretty sure Ous is back with Trojan. Another swimmer who wasn’t successful with NBAC.

Bill Bell

9 years ago

While I’d love to see Ous swim @. Gold Coast I am wondering how he can be construed as a “Pacific Rim” swimmer (unless via his association w/USC). And for that matter how do swimmers from Brazil and South Africa meet the “Pa-Pac” criteria? Last time I looked neither nation borders the Pacific but then I was never much for geography in college.

And as for the writer who said “another swimmer” (referring to Ous) who didn’t do dink @. NBAC…maybe Friis should have gone to Nation’s Cap to train w/Ledecky or come out to LaLaLand and train w/Team Trojan.

Guess we’ll find if he year in Baltimore pays dividends next week @. Berlin. Wonderb if that hot Danish female breastroker ever thought about training w/Soni and Hardy?

Jeff Commings

9 years ago

Reply to Bill Bell

Bill, South Africa and Brazil are in the meet based on a stipulation that the charter nations can invite other countries that are interested in competing.

Duncan

9 years ago

What a shame. Jeff, do you know where the bottleneck is? The Australians? the Tunisians? The USA? (You can tell I don’t travel much!)

Jeff Commings

9 years ago

Reply to Duncan

Not sure, Duncan.