To swim
Bronze for Märtens: Good start “pushes” German swimmers
Has struck over 400 meters freestyle after 3:42.20 minutes: World Cup third Lukas Märtens. photo
© Gregorio Borgia/AP/dpa
One medal, three national records: The German pelvic aces got off to a good start in their World Championship races. The international stars put on a great show right at the start. Three world records are broken.
Completely exhausted hung Lukas Märtens over the line in the World Cup swimming pool in Fukuoka. The 21-year-old was “satisfied” with bronze, but he wasn’t completely happy.
“I would have hoped for a bit more in terms of fitness,” said Märtens, adding: “Because I’m really in a good mood.” For the fight for gold, it was not enough over 400 meters freestyle. The German swimmers got off to a good start in the pool competitions even without the big triumph. Märtens’ third place and also three national records give hope for a successful second week in Japan.
“We have great people here at the start and they are motivated and pushed by it,” said Märtens after his podium finish in 3:42.20 minutes. The frequent starter, who still has further chances of winning a medal at these world championships and has already secured qualification for the 2024 Olympics in Paris by coming third, has established himself as the second-best German swimmer behind double world champion Florian Wellbrock. Wellbrock and Leonie Beck had presented strongly for the German Swimming Association with two gold medals in open water last week. In addition, Oliver Klemet had won bronze.
Isabel Gose without a chance
Wellbrock and Märtens train together with long-distance national coach Bernd Berkhahn in Magdeburg and always encourage each other to achieve top performances. Wellbrock, who will only take part in the races in the Marine Messe on Tuesday night (from 3.30 a.m./CEST), supported his team-mate in the hall and received him in the catacombs after the race.
However, Märtens didn’t have much time to accept precious metal congratulations. He really wanted to see his girlfriend Isabel Gose’s finale. In the top-class final over 400 meters freestyle, however, Gose had no chance of a medal. In the victory of the outstanding Australian Ariarne Titmus, who set the first world record of this World Championships in 3:55.38 minutes, she finished seventh in 4:05.27 minutes. France’s Leon Marchand in 4:02.50 minutes over 400 meters individual medley and the Australian women’s 4×100 meter freestyle relay in 3:27.96 minutes followed with further world records. Marchand took US swimming legend Michael Phelps’ last individual world record from him.
“It wasn’t the best race. I’m a bit sad,” said Gose about her appearance in the final. She couldn’t match her performance from the morning. In the lead-up, Gose set a national record of 4:03.02 minutes. “I’m actually in a good mood, I proved that this morning,” she said. “Starting a World Cup with a German record is always something very special.”
Breaststroker Matzerath with a German record
Angelina Köhler and Lucas Matzerath also experienced this special feeling. Breaststroker Matzerath also impressed with a German record in the preliminary heat. The 23-year-old swam the 100-meter distance in 58.74 seconds, beating Fabian Schwingenschlögl’s previous best time from 2021. He finished the semifinals in second place in 58.75 seconds and can certainly count on a chance of a medal surprise this Monday.
The 22-year-old Köhler improved her own national record by 17 hundredths of a second in the semifinals over 100 meters butterfly in 57.05 seconds and qualified fifth for the final.
While it was just getting started for the pool swimmers, the World Championships for the water jumpers have been over since Saturday evening. The German team leaves the title fights with a medal. Lena Hentschel, Christina Wassen, Moritz Wesemann and Timo Barthel celebrated bronze in the mixed team competition from the three-meter board and tower. In Fukuoka, Germany also secured three more quota places for the 2024 Olympics. However, national coach Christoph Bohm also said clearly: “We have to get some coal in the synchronized disciplines. We have to step on the gas to get the quota places there. When we have the quota places then, you can also think about a medal in Paris.”