Dubai: Tunisia's World and Olympic champion Oussama Mellouli is eyeing a very special performance at the 10th Fina World Swimming Championships (25m) to be held in Dubai from December 15-19.
"This competition is a great opportunity for the Arab world to be exposed to such an exciting event. And for me to come and participate in a country that has given me so many friends will be indeed very special," Mellouli said from the US where he trains at the University of Southern California.
"Though swimming is so much part of our Arab culture, we need to salute the leadership of the UAE for bringing such an important event to Dubai. This will be a truly exciting championships," Mellouli added.
In 2002, Mellouli transferred to the US from his native Tunisia to pursue a career in swimming. He has been living and training there ever since.
During the course of his swimming, Mellouli has picked up several honours.
But his most important ones are the gold medals in the 1500m freestyle at the 2009 World Championships and at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Perhaps Mellouli's strength as a swimmer lies in his versatility in adapting to the long and short distances in the pool.
No surprises
And not too surprisingly, the 26-year-old is yet to decide what events he wants to participate in this December.
"I will do a couple of freestyle events [in Dubai], but I am yet to decide on these with my coach," Mellouli said.
The Tunisian will have loads of other top swimmers such as Ryan Lochte and Aaron Peirsol of the US, Canadian Ryan Cochrane and Brazilian Cesar Cielo that Mellouli would have to deal with during the Dubai championships.
To make matters worse, Mellouli has not swum in a major competition in 2010.
However, this is no big issue for the swimmer. "Mentally, I am excited for these championships as it is being held in a brother Arab nation and that definitely motivates me," Mellouli said.
"I have been training seriously for December and all I need to do now is to get the rhythm and stroke right. And if the fitness and the work load are there, then you can get the job done," Mellouli said.
"I am very excited about this competition and I am looking forward to come to Dubai and do some fast swimming," he added.
"One cannot follow what is going on with the times of the others. I focus on my own goals and what I need to achieve and accomplish.
This has been an off season for me so far, but I have always had Dubai as the main goal for the season..."
