Florian Wellbrock’s successes in open water: attacking the gap

Four world championship races, four German victories. No, not in the ice channel, not on the sledge or in the bobsled. Not even on the summer toboggan run. But in the Sea of ​​Japan at the open water competitions of the swimming world championships. Fukuoka, Japan on Saturday. World champion over ten kilometers: Leonie Beck. Fukuoka, Japan, on Sunday. World champion over ten kilometers: Florian Wellbrock. Fukuoka, Japan on Tuesday. World champion over five kilometers: Leonie Beck. World champion over ten kilometers: Florian Wellbrock.

There will be another relay competition on Thursday. It would be a surprise if the Germans didn’t also pull the fifth gold medal out of the sea. But whether this “sweep” succeeds or not: The manner of dominance is reminiscent of the medal specialists of the winter, tobogganists and bobsledders, who try to keep the competition at a distance with a unique infrastructure and immense material know-how, mostly successfully.