“I’m not deterred by the tough conditions” – Florian Wellbrock
While Leonie Beck was already preparing for her award ceremony, Florian Wellbrock enjoyed an ice bath in the paddling pool in the heat of Fukuoka. Stretched out on all fours and a cold Coke in hand, the double world champion endured it in the sun at 45 degrees Celsius. The champion over ten and five kilometers and Beck, who also won two gold medals, finally made the open water competitions in Fukuoka their German swimming festivals on Tuesday. Four world championship titles for the same nation over these two distances – that has never happened before.
“It’s running,” Wellbrock stated after successfully defending his title over five kilometers. “The athletes support each other. The staff is always there and ready and fires. That is the key to the enormous success this year.«
Wellbrock and Beck posed for gold photos together. Both had already qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with their victories over ten kilometers at the weekend. The main goal was achieved. “Unbelievable! I never thought I could still win gold now,” said Beck. Long-distance national coach Bernd Berkhahn, who trains Wellbrock in Magdeburg, was also enthusiastic. “The superiority is astounding,” said the 52-year-old. Berkhahn added: “I would not have thought that it would still be possible to win quadruple gold with the power density that exists internationally and with the science that we use.”
As with his Olympic victory in Tokyo in 2021, Wellbrock took the lead early on in his race. Born in Bremen, he was not discouraged by the burning sun and a water temperature of 28.2 degrees. At no time did he show weakness. “I’m not put off by the harsh conditions. I know I’m very good at it,’ Wellbrock said.
He was 4.5 seconds ahead of second-placed Gregorio Paltrinieri from Italy. Wellbrock needed 53:58.0 minutes for the five-kilometer route. After Thomas Lurz, Wellbrock is only the second swimmer to win the double of two gold medals over five and ten kilometers at the same World Championships. Overall, Wellbrock won the sixth world championship gold of his career. The second German starter, Oliver Klemet, who won bronze on Sunday and also secured the Olympic ticket, swam in fourth place.
Unlike Wellbrock, Beck had held back in her race at the beginning. The 26-year-old convinced in a long final sprint. She won in 59:31.7 minutes ahead of Sharon van Rouwendaal from the Netherlands and Ana Marcela Cunha from Brazil.
At the conclusion of the open water title fights in Japan, Beck is now looking forward to the relay race on Thursday (1:00 a.m. CEST). There she can write history again with the mixed team: Germany is the first nation to win all open water titles at a World Championships. He initially left open whether Wellbrock would be there. He still has a lot planned in the pool in the second week of the World Cup, so he could rely on regeneration. Above all, he is hot for the title over 1,500 meters freestyle. On the other hand, he also said: “I’ve now shown that I’m really very fit.” The decision should be made at a team meeting.
If Wellbrock also competes with the relay, he could even top his World Cup haul from last year. At that time he had won five medals in five competitions. In Budapest there were two gold, one silver and two bronze.
