Former USC NCAA Champion Ous Mellouli became the first man to defeat Grant Hackett in the 1500-meter freestyle in 11 years, wresting away the stranglehold the Aussie had on the race to win Tunisia's first ever swimming gold medal on the final day of swimming at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Sunday morning.

Following Mellouli's win, USC senior Rebecca Soni swam the breaststroke leg for the U.S. 4x100m medley relay, which won silver.

Mellouli, a four-time All-American in the mile - but never a title-winner -- in college, trailed the first the first two thirds of the race before taking over first after 1100 meters. Mellouli, coached in Beijing by USC head swimming coach Dave Salo, lengthened his lead to almost a second-and-a-half with only 100 meters to go.

Hackett cut more than half a second off the lead with 50 meters to go, but couldn't catch a sprinting Mellouli over the final 50 meters as the Tunisian won in 14:40.84, an African record which made him the second fastest man ever in the race. Hackett, the world record holder in the race, finished in 14:41.53.

Mellouli's win is even more noteworthy considering he's been battling back pain in recent months that has limited his training to a degree. Diagnosed in July with two herniated disks in his back, Mellouli's ability to vie for medals in Beijing was recently in doubt.

"We were not sure he was going to do anything let alone medal, especially in the 1500," Salo said. "His 400 gave us hope and he seemed to be coming along reasonably well through the night before the race. The race played out well for him. Had Grant Hackett and (bronze medal winner) Ryan Cochrane gone out faster, I am not sure Ous would have been in the hunt for the gold medal. When he realized he had a chance to win at about 600-800, he was energized and took advantage of the way the early leaders were swimming.

Also swimming in the 1500m free was former Trojan Larsen Jensen, who won bronze in the 400m free earlier in the meet. The silver medalist in the 1500m free in 2004, he finished fifth in the mile in 14:48.16.

"Ous swam a perfect race against the very best the world has ever seen in the 1500 free. Ous is one of our best athletes at USC and his training over the past two years has prepared him to be competitive even when he is not on the top of his game. I am so proud of Ous and his performance as I am of the performance of all our Trojan Olympians (Klete Keller, Erik Vendt, Mark Warkentin, Soni and Jensen)."

Mellouli's win in the mile continues a tradition of Olympic success USC has had in the event. Mike O'Brien won the race in 1984 for the U.S. while Trojan Australians John Konrads and Murray Rose won the race in 1960 and 1956, respectively. Rose won silver in the race in 1960, as did Jensen, of course in 2004. Buster Crabbe also won bronze in the race in 1928.