Swimming EM in Rome: Wellbrock’s comeback party – Braunschweig celebrates bronze

European Swimming Championships in Rome
Wellbrock’s comeback party – Braunschweig celebrates bronze

Ole Braunschweig raised his fist into the Roman evening sky and celebrated his greatest career success, his roommate Florian Wellbrock was clearly happy about his own long-awaited Rome premiere.

On the fifth day of the European Swimming Championships, backstroke swimmer Braunschweig brought the fourth medal to the German team. The 24-year-old was only beaten by Greek champion Apostolos Christou and Italian Thomas Ceccon over 50 meters with a time of 24.68 seconds. “It’s just indescribable,” said the Berliner after bronze.

Braunschweig: “You just have to believe in yourself”

For the completely exuberant Braunschweig it was the first medal at a major international event. “You just have to believe in yourself, that’s what happens,” he said after the success over the non-Olympic distance. “Finally a sprint medal and not a long-distance medal. Great!” Olympic champion Wellbrock was also good for motivation: “Flo and I push each other in the room. We are the hype train in our team.”

Wellbrock had previously lackluster but confidently moved into the final over 1500 meters. Satisfaction and a little relief were written all over the face of the top German swimmer. After days of waiting and training, the comeback after the Corona break was successful in the magnificent outdoor pool of the Foro Italico. With a delay, the Olympic champion is now also part of the big Italian swimming party.

“I really didn’t want to let it take me to start here. I’ve never been here before,” said Wellbrock after his fifth place in the heat. He had struck after 15:06.18 minutes. “That was about what was to be expected. I’m satisfied with that for now.”

Wellbrock: “Don’t overdo it”

However, if the Olympic bronze medalist wants to fight for the medals on this route, he has to improve. Wellbrock knows that, but is easygoing. “We’re going to be surprised if I can swim for the medals,” he said.

At the World Championships in Budapest in June, the 24-year-old won five medals in five starts in the pool and open water. Then a corona infection threw him off track. “I showed what I can do at the World Championships, so I don’t need to overdo it here,” said Wellbrock.

Instead of starting himself, he used the first days of the European Championship to build up his form and enjoyed the atmosphere under the sun in the Italian capital. Wellbrock went out to eat with his parents and was happy about the successes of his Magdeburg teammates Lukas Märtens and Isabel Gose.

“You did a good job,” Wellbrock said, smiling. “Lukas in particular – he also had Corona and got back into the pool incredibly strong and quickly.” Märtens won silver in the 800m freestyle on Saturday, Gose also finished second over the same distance and also secured bronze in the 200m.

“Of course that makes you proud,” said Wellbrock. “If you’re not able to swim for the medals yourself, the other two cover that. That’s a good thing.”

Märtens: “The legs have closed”

On Monday, Märtens didn’t make it onto the podium on a side track. He finished seventh in the 200m freestyle final. He was completely exhausted after the tough program of the past few days. “The legs have closed,” he said to the last track of the race. “At some point the head also said: ‘Shit, somehow it’s not going the way it was before’.”

The Romanian giant David Popovici won clearly as expected. However, the 17-year-old did not endanger Paul Biedermann’s 13-year-old world record of 1:42.97 minutes. In 2009, Biedermann swam the fabulous time of 1:42.00 minutes at the same place.

Butterfly swimmer Angelina Köhler came in fourth in the 100 meter final after 57.90 seconds. For the water jumpers, too, the European Championships began in fifth place without a medal in the team competition.

dpa