German swimmers Angelina Köhler, Isabel Gose, and Maya Werner secured multiple medals during the European Aquatics Championships at the Centre Aquatique Olympique in Paris, lifting the German swimming team’s total medal count in the pool to eight, according to regional media reports.
Angelina Köhler Claims Silver in 100m Butterfly After Mental Reset
Former world champion Angelina Köhler captured a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly event on August 14, 2026, finishing just 31 hundredths of a second behind gold medalist Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium with a time of 56.39 seconds. For Köhler, the performance marked her first major international podium finish since her world championship triumph in 2024. Following frustrating outings at the Paris Olympic Games and subsequent world championships in Singapore, the 25-year-old Berlin native overhauled her daily training regimen and adjusted her nutrition by cutting out sugar, sweets, and sweet beverages.
Köhler credited her success to intensive psychological preparation in the days leading up to the race. “I have worked so much mentally and that is simply the greatest reward that it is working out now,” Köhler said in remarks reported by Zeit Online. Describing her internal monologue during the competition, she noted: “I told myself, Angie, you can trust yourself, you are the sly fox here. You are someone who can come from behind. Nobody can touch you.”
Isabel Gose Secures Fourth Paris Medal With 1500m Freestyle Silver
Distance specialist Isabel Gose added a silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle event to her tally, marking her fourth podium finish of the championships. Gose finished more than three seconds behind Italy’s Simona Quadarella, who successfully defended her upper hand in the distance events. “I think I have to admit to myself that she is a bit stronger than me this season and last season,” Gose told German broadcaster ARD.
Despite finishing behind Quadarella, Gose expressed complete satisfaction with her personal execution. Because teammate Maya Werner captured the bronze medal in the same race, the podium mirrored the exact structure of the earlier 800-meter freestyle final. Gose enthusiastically acknowledged Werner’s achievement from the pool deck, pointing both thumbs toward her compatriot. Werner admitted she struggled to find words for her success, which marked her second medal of the competition. Gose’s broader medal haul in the French capital includes gold medals in the open-water knockout sprint and the mixed relay.
Lukas Märtens Reflects on Seventh-Place Finish in 200m Freestyle
Olympic champion Lukas Märtens experienced a difficult outing in the 200-meter freestyle, finishing seventh with a time of 1:45,58 minutes. Märtens, who competes for SC Magdeburg alongside Gose, admitted that his mental approach fell flat from the start. “The race was over before I felt like I was in the water — from a mental standpoint,” Märtens said in the mixed zone at the Centre Aquatique Olympique, noting that he would have needed to shave roughly two seconds off his time to challenge gold medalist David Popovici of Romania.
Despite missing the podium, Märtens maintained a lighthearted outward demeanor. “It’s a pity when you can’t be there on the spot, throw everything off, let everything out,” Märtens remarked, while turning his attention toward the upcoming 400-meter freestyle event scheduled for Sunday.
Next Steps for the German Swimming Team
The European Aquatics Championships continue at the Centre Aquatique Olympique in Paris, with German athletes slated to compete in preliminary and final heats through the weekend, including Märtens’ upcoming bid in the 400-meter freestyle.
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