German Swimmer Wellbrock Wins Three Golds at European Open Water Championships
Florian Wellbrock won three gold medals at the European Open Water Swimming Championships in Paris, redeeming his disappointing 2024 Olympic performance. He won the 10km and 5km individual races and led Germany’s mixed relay to victory, all held in the Seine River. Teammate Oliver Klemet earned bronze in the 10km. Wellbrock overcame a season of illness, calling his performance a “mental masterclass.”
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Wellbrock Leads German Relay to Gold, Wins Third Title at European Swimming Championships
At the European Swimming Championships in Paris, Germany's Florian Wellbrock won his third gold medal by leading the mixed 4x1.5 km open water relay team to victory. The German team, consisting of Julia Ackermann, Isabel Gose, Oliver Klemet, and Wellbrock, defeated Italy and Hungary in the Seine. Ackermann handed off with a 35-second deficit, but Gose closed the gap and took the lead within three minutes. Klemet extended the advantage to 8.15 seconds before Wellbrock fended off attacks from Hungary's Dávid Betlehem and Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri on the final lap, securing the win. This was Germany's fourth gold medal at the championships, continuing their successful streak.
Florian Wellbrock Wins Second European Open Water Gold at Paris Championships
German swimmer Florian Wellbrock won his second European title in open water swimming at the European Championships in Paris, dominating the 5km race in the Seine with a time of 55:40.2 minutes. The 28-year-old 2021 Olympic champion overcame a difficult season marked by illness and a tenth-place finish in the overall World Cup standings. He led from early on, fending off a challenge from Hungarian David Betlehem, who took silver, while Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri earned bronze. German teammate Oliver Klemet, who won bronze in the 10km, finished tenth. Wellbrock's victory follows his earlier gold in the Olympic 10km race. Two more open water events remain: the knockout sprint on Friday and the relay on Saturday.
Wellbrock Wins Gold Over Ten Kilometers – Klemet Also on the Podium
At the European Open Water Swimming Championships held in Paris, Germany's Florian Wellbrock triumphed in the 10-kilometer race in the Seine River, securing his first European title in the discipline. Dávid Betlehem of Hungary claimed the silver medal, while German Olympic silver medalist Oliver Klemet finished with bronze. The event marks a significant achievement for Wellbrock, who had previously won Olympic gold in the pool but had not yet captured a European open water crown. The race took place in challenging conditions in the Seine, with all three medalists delivering strong performances.
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Gold at European Open Water Swimming Championships: Master of Mentality
German swimmer Florian Wellbrock won the gold medal in the 10-kilometer open water race at the European Open Water Swimming Championships in Paris, held in the Seine near the Eiffel Tower. Despite a challenging season marked by multiple illness-related training interruptions, Wellbrock led from the start and finished two seconds ahead of Hungary's David Bethlehem. His training partner Oliver Klemet took bronze. Wellbrock, a ten-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist in open water, had never before won a European title in open water. He called his performance a 'mental masterclass,' noting that physically he should not have won given his disrupted preparation. The German women's team did not compete due to illness. The victory also helped Wellbrock reconcile with Paris, where he had a disappointing performance at the 2024 Olympics.
Wellbrock Wins European Championship Gold in Seine, Redeeming Olympic Disappointment
German swimmer Florian Wellbrock won the European Championship gold medal in the 10-kilometer open water swim in Paris, redeeming his disappointing performance at the 2024 Olympics where he failed to medal. The race took place in the Seine River, the same venue as the Olympic event. Wellbrock led for most of the race, with a strong finish against Hungarian David Betlehem. German teammate Oliver Klemet won bronze, completing a successful start for the German open water team. The victory is especially significant for Wellbrock after a difficult season marked by illness and setbacks. Additionally, synchronized swimmer Klara Bleyer won bronze in the technical routine final, adding to Germany's medal tally at the European Championships.